Man Arrested After Wise County Veteran Lauren Whitener Found Dead In Burning Home
UPDATE: Wise County District Attorney Drops Murder Charge Due To DNA Evidence
LAKE BRIDGEPORT, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) - Authorities have arrested a man after a war veteran was found dead inside a burning home in Wise County more than two months ago.
Rodney Maxwell, 39, was charged with the capital murder of 32-year-old Lauren Whitener, an Army sergeant who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Whitener was also a mother to an 8-year-old child.
On July 5, firefighters responded to a fire at the home in Lake Bridgeport. Officials said Whitener's body was found with multiple stab wounds in a bedroom, following the fire at her N. Main Street home.
Investigators were able to obtain an arrest warrant based on evidence that had been tested at crime labs.
Authorities are still searching for a motive for her death. Maxwell was also charged with two counts of arson.