Texas Man Murdered His Wife, An Ex-Assistant Prosecutor Once Responsible For Getting Protective Orders: Sheriff

A Texas man allegedly murdered his wife, a former assistant county prosecutor once responsible for helping to get protective orders issued, authorities said.

On New Year’s Day, the Hood County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest of Jeffrey Bryan McLaughlin, 58, for the first-degree felony murder of Venisa McLaughlin in Pecan Plantation, Hood County News reported.

According to County Attorney Matt Mills, Venisa McLaughlin worked at his office for years and left last spring on friendly terms. Mills noted the victim was responsible for everything from the protective order cases to mental commitments.

He called the murder case involving the ex-assistant prosecutor “very tragic.”

“This is a really big loss for our office, even though she [no longer worked there],” he told Hood County News.

The sheriff’s office declined to provide specifics surrounding the circumstances of the slaying, and the investigation is ongoing.

Jeffrey McLaughlin was being held on $250,000 bond at the Hood County jail.