Judge in Tyler Grants DNA Testing for Kerry Max Cook

A man twice sentenced to death — but later freed — over the 1977 rape and murder of a Tyler woman will get new DNA testing that he says will demonstrate his innocence.

A judge on Monday granted Kerry Max Cook’s request to have more testing. Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham says he doesn’t know yet what Cook will want to be tested or re-tested, but that he doesn’t oppose it.

Cook was twice convicted of killing Linda Jo Edwards in her Tyler apartment. Courts overturned both convictions. In 1999, Cook agreed to plead no contest to murder for a sentence of time served.

Administrative Judge John Ovard of Dallas denied a request from Cook’s attorneys to have Smith County District Judge Christi Kennedy recuse herself and to have the case moved elsewhere. Judge Kennedy will now hear the DNA case .

If DNA evidence clears Cooks name in the 35-year-old murder, he could receive 1.6 million dollars in retribution from the State of Texas.

Two Tylerites Dead in Kansas Crash

OAKLEY, KS. – Two Tyler Men are dead, and four others are hospitalized following a traffic accident near Oakley, Kansas Monday evening.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, an SUV driven by Brandon Ljuann Gordan,25,  lost control of his vehicle, went through a median into the westbound lanes of traffic and was struck by a tractor trailer truck. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch with the SUV landing on its top.

Gordon and one of his passengers, Marvin Ray Jones, 49, of Tyler were pronounced dead at the scene.

Hospitalized are Princeton L. Hudson, 26, Burrel B. Taylor, 37, Willie D. Jackson, 26, and Marquette A. Gates, 29, all of Tyler. They were all passengers in the SUV and were taken to Logan Co Hospital, Kansas.

The driver of the eighteen wheeler sustained minor injuries.

The fatal wreck occurred 6:30pm Monday on I-70, east of Oakley in Gove County.

Police Investigating Shooting That Leaves Woman Injured

Tyler Police are investigating a shooting overnight that occurred while the victim was in her car. Police say the suspect vehicle pulled up beside the victim’s vehicle and began firing shots striking the female victim in the arm. She was transported to ETMC for treatment.

Tyler Police Investigators have determined the identity of the suspect in the shooting that occurred at M.L.King and N. Broadway early Tuesday morning.

The suspect is identified as 26 year old Leon Lajuan Luton of Flint Texas. Luton is wanted for two counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Bond was set at $200,000 each by Judge Kennedy. Luton was last seen driving a white Chrysler PT Cruiser 4-door, unknown license plate.

Police Looking Into Tyler Gas Station Robbery

Police are looking for a suspect who held up a Tyler convenience store last night. The armed robbery occurred at 9:28 p.m. at the Express Stop located at 1204 West Gentry Parkway.

The suspect is described as a black male wearing a mask, a white and black horizontally striped shirt and pants that fall to just above the suspect’s ankles.  The suspect was described as having a bushy afro.  Tyler Officer Steve Black and his canine partner Paco responded to the scene and attempted to track the suspect from the scene.  Other officers checked the area and were unable to locate the suspect.

Anyone with information concerning this offense is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department at (903)531-1000 or Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.