Spraberry charged with capital murder

A local felon who escaped Cass County jail in late August has now been charged with capital murder for a double homicide in Atlanta he’d long been suspected of, according to Cass County District Attorney’s Office.

Charles Obin Spraberry was charged Thursday with capital murder, stemming from the deaths of a couple whose bodies were found in a burned-out camper trailer this past spring.

John Thomas Jr. and Jennifer Archer were found dead on March 11, in Thomas’ burned-out camper trailer.

“Both Thomas and Archer had been shot, and the camper in which Thomas was living was burned to the ground with both bodies inside,” a release from District Attorney Courtney Shelton stated.

Shelton said investigators believe they have recovered the gun used to shoot the couple.

“There has been an ongoing investigation by the Cass County Sheriff ’s Office, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Texas Rangers,” Shelton stated.

Evidence garnered through cell phone records, forensics, and witness statements ultimately helped lead to Spraberry’s charge – including Spraberry’s own statement to law enforcement, according to Shelton.

“Charles Spraberry was already in the Cass County jail facing multiple felony assault charges, along with new charges stemming from his escape on August 29,” Shelton said.

On August 29, Spraberry managed to escape the Cass County jail using a knife he crafted from the top of a mop handle, which he used to assault a correctional officer before fleeing, according to earlier reports.

He was recaptured less than two days later in Mooringsport, Louisiana after a multi-agency task force, including CCSO kept tabs on a vehicle Spraberry had stolen at a home between Linden and Red Hill, TX.

Cass County Sheriff Larry Rowe said his office tracked the Cadillac SUV stolen by Spraberry and a female using OnStar and notified the Caddo Parish Sheriff ’s Office in Louisiana that he was headed toward them on Highway 169 just south of Mooringsport.

OnStar disabled the car as Spraberry and Cass County resident Shea Smith surrendered, without incident, earlier reports stated.

In March, when the double homicide came to light for which Spraberry was decidedly a person of interest, Spraberry fled to Louisiana wanted on felony charges including sexual assault, assault by strangulation, assault with a deadly weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and kidnapping.

Shelton said the District Attorney’s Office would not be making further comments on the double homicide case at this time.