Sheriff clarifies update from other media outlet

It has been more than one year now since three sisters pulled from a pond off Texas Highway 77. People in the community, and nationality want those responsible for the murders of Zi’Ariel Robinson- Oliver, 9; A’Miyah Hughes, 8; and Te’Mari Robinson- Oliver, 5 to receive justice. Many including those in the media are looking for more answers for this senseless act. The sisters were found side by side on July 30, 2022. At the time there was no official release of foul play but was presumed by some to be an accidental drowning. That changed when on March 23 in a press release County Attorney Courtney Shelton issued a release that the case was being treated as a homicide.

Since then there has been lots of speculation of late but no new information yet the public seeks answers. Last week one of the regional news outlets printed a story saying that the Cass County Sheriff reported an arrest was imminent. That was not the case said Rowe. The department is working as quickly as they can on the case to make sure whoever did this pays for the crime, but they are not there yet. Sheriff Larry Rowe says that his department and the Texas Rangers are still gathering information. Rowe says, “It is important to have as much evidence as possible for any eventual case in the future.” Failure to do so can cause problems when a case is brought to court.

As time goes on a number of professional and amateur journalists seek answers. US Sun and Rolling Stone are a couple of the new national news networks that are investigating as the story picks up steam. Internet sleuths speculate and do their own investigative research trying to get to the truth of what happened. Until the case is solved people will speculate and fill in the gaps. That is what has happened recently with the Ohio murder case of the college student and missing woman Gabby Petito. As time goes by without answers it should only get more challenging.

What we do know so far is that three young girls were found dead in a pond, and later found out were murdered. They were first reported missing at about 9:00 p.m. on July 29, 2022. In a recent report from KSLA, neighbor Josephine Webster came forward with new details, According to the article Josephine, remembers driving home and being “approached by a man who had been living at the home with the children and their mom, Shammaonique Oliver-Wickerson.”

“I gave him my house phone and he called the mom and told her the girls hadn’t showed up,” said Josephine.

At the time, “law enforcement and volunteers searched the area. Nearly five hours later in the early morning hours, their bodies were found by divers in a pond that borders their property and for the first time.

One year later, the owner of this pond allowed KSLA access to the pond.

“They would have to get in there through there with the horse to go down to the pond,” Josephine said.

“Just something about it just didn’t seem right,” said Aberney Webster Jr., another neighbor.

Cass County Attorney Courtney Shelton recently told the Journal-Sun Cass that she had nothing at this time to report. County Sheriff Larry Rowe told KSLA that “this is a very active investigation; however, he wouldn’t elaborate on details.”

The last report from Shelton noted that according to autopsy reports the case was described by Cass County District Attorney Courtney Shelton as a murder.

“Autopsy reports concluded the manner of death for all three girls was homicide, indicating evidence of strangulation,” Shelton said. All three girls also suffered “lacerations” to their faces, she added.

According to definitions outlined on page 13 in the Texas Evidence Collection Protocol handbook, a ‘laceration’ is different than a ‘cut’. The TECP handbook, which can be found on the Texas Attorney General’s Website, texasattorneygeneral.gov, uses the word ‘laceration’ synonymously with ‘tear’. TECP describes a laceration as an injury caused when “skin is broken and disrupted by blunt force such as tearing, ripping, crushing, overstretching, pulling apart, over-bending, or shearing of tissue” Shelton said they were reported missing by their male cousin, Paris Propps, who Shelton said was responsible for the girls’ care at the time.

The mother of the girls was working, and the girls’ three other siblings were located inside the home unharmed, according to authorities.

“Multiple witness statements have been obtained, DNA testing is ongoing, and the investigation will continue,” Shelton said in a news release Thursday. It is unclear if one of those witnesses was Webster.

Shelton said the Cass County DA’s Office, along with the Sheriff ’s Office and Texas Rangers are seeking any new information that could lead to an arrest in this case.

Shelton recommended at the time that those with information contact Texas Ranger Josh Mason. The Journal-Sun was told on August 10 from DPS that all of their evidence had been turned over to the attorney’s office, to contact the Cass County District Attorney’s office if the public had any more information to share.

At 12:45 a.m. July 30, 2022, Game Warden Shawn Hervey said that Game Wardens with Texas Parks and Wildlife, along with Cass County Sheriff ’s Office and Smith County’s Emergency Services District (ESD2) were actively searching for the girls around the private pond on State Highway 77. All three children were recovered from the private pond at 2:03 a.m.--a little over an hour after the search near the pond started and five hours after their cousin/ babysitter reported them as missing.

At first, the female victims–aged 5,8, and 9– were reported as accidental drowning. According to Hervey, they were led to find the girls at the pond after finding clothes by the pond. When the clothes were found, Sheriff Larry Rowe said a dive team was called in to search the water, where the girls were ultimately recovered.

“We have no idea what the girls were doing there,” Rowe told news outlets at the time.

Bre Oliver (Shommaonique Oliver), 28, and mother of the children announced on Facebook, “My heart it hurt so bad because my babies are gone to be with the lord & I know everyone has a role on earth but their roles were too short. They had a long life ahead of them, and now they will never get to grow up into the young ladies I know they were going to be,” she wrote. “Just know mama love you no matter what, say hi to grannies for me. it’s not goodbye it’s see you later my sweet angles.”

Atlanta ISD superintendent Jason Harris had this to say concerning the incident after it was announced at the time, “Atlanta Independent School District extends our sincerest condolences and sympathies to the family of the three students we lost over the weekend. Zi’Ariel, A’Miyah and Te’Mari were all students at Atlanta Primary School. We are keeping this family in our prayers and lending our support in these difficult days ahead. As our community copes with this tremendous loss, we have made counseling services available to students and staff at each campus and encourage those who need support to reach out for assistance.”

This is still an active investigation. As more information is released, the Journal-Sun will update the story. Contact the Cass County Sheriff ’s Department or the Texas Rangers if you have a lead. If you have information about the chime you would like to share with the Journal-Sun email reporter@casscountynow. com.