What began as a routine Monday afternoon in Conroe ended in gunfire and a double homicide, with deputies accusing an estranged husband of killing his wife and her mother inside a neighborhood home.
Authorities say 57-year-old Tara Hardin and her 80-year-old mother, Floris Wolford, were found shot to death at a house in the 300 block of Shoreview Drive on the east side of Conroe. The suspect, 57-year-old Stanley Earl Hardin, has been arrested and is being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond on a capital murder charge.
The shooting was reported around 2 p.m. Monday. According to officials, Tara Hardin called 911 reporting that her husband had rammed his truck into the house. Gunfire can be heard on that call, as first reported by FOX 26 Houston. Investigators say Hardin has no prior criminal history.
How Deputies Say The Events Unfolded
After the crash and 911 call, deputies say shots were fired and Stanley Hardin left the home. According to the sheriff's office, he walked to a nearby residence where his son was staying and then asked for a ride back to his own house.
Deputies took him into custody at that location when they arrived on scene, officials told reporters. In a statement provided to FOX 26 Houston, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said it "extends our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victims."
Capital Murder Charge And What It Means
Prosecutors have charged Hardin with capital murder, a charge reserved for killings that meet specific aggravating factors under Texas law. Under the Texas Penal Code section 19.03, a conviction for capital murder can carry either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case will move through the Montgomery County court system, where prosecutors and a judge will decide the next steps.
Investigators say the probe remains active and that only limited information is being released so far. Anyone with details about what happened is urged to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office as detectives work to understand what led up to the deadly violence.
