Sweeny police chief speaks after two murders in identical condominium

SWEENY, Texas – In Sweeny, again in November 2024, Michaela Tyler was shot and killed on the Windmill Run Flats. Her then-husband, Michael Logan Tyler, has been charged with homicide, however it took almost 9 months.

Nonetheless, almost 5 months after Michaela Tyler was shot and killed, Robert Lee Phillips III was killed on the identical condominium advanced and there are nonetheless no fees in his case, however the chief of the Sweeny Police Division says they’re near handing down fees.

Michalea Tyler’s demise 

The backstory:

Chief Brad Caudle says the day Michaela was shot, the decision got here in as a suicide name, however upon the arrival of his officers and later his investigators, he says he and his staff had different ideas. The Chief stated there have been inconsistencies from what they noticed on the scene of the crime to tales throughout interviews and questioning with Michael Tyler, which in the end led to him being launched the night after the crime was dedicated. 

The chief stated different businesses, such because the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Workplace and Texas Rangers, have been concerned in serving to examine, and inconsistencies continued to be present in Tyler’s tales.

Chief Caidle provides that for months he and the opposite businesses concerned within the investigation labored tirelessly to acquire sufficient proof to cost Tyler.

“We felt like on the time as proof would come again, the forensic proof, that it was constructing a stronger case,” stated Chief Caudle. 

About 5 days after Michaela Tyler was discovered lifeless, Michael left city together with his sister, and he was caught within the San Antonio space again in April by somebody who acknowledged him, officers say.

Caudle says that the preliminary cost his workplace introduced down on Tyler was animal cruelty fees, after his staff discovered a number of canines caged in Michael and Michaela Tyler’s condominium the day she was discovered lifeless. Nonetheless, the fees continued to construct after he was caught in Boerne, Texas, which is in Kendall County and their sheriff’s division additionally charged Tyler.

Tyler has been within the Brazoria County Jail since April 25, however the homicide fees have been handed down final week by a grand jury who indicted him. His bond is about at $2 million, in accordance with on-line jail information.

Sweeny police division’s gradual case momentum

What they’re saying:

“A part of our timeline that has taken this lengthy is, after all, as we’ve talked about, that we’re a small division, so we do depend on different businesses’ help to assist out. We’re additionally not the one company in Brazoria County they assist out,” stated Chief Caudle. “Quite a lot of it’s checks and balances, after which we will observe up on what we’re doing.”

Caudle additionally advised FOX 26 that his workplace and different businesses needed to ensure they’d a powerful case, whereas making an attempt to guard the integrity of the investigation.

“The case that was introduced was sufficient for them to return again and say we really feel like there must be an indictment for homicide. By the point it was all put collectively, and it does take time, it had went from suicide to involuntary manslaughter, to voluntary manslaughter to, when the whole lot fell into place, in the end, a homicide,” Caudle stated. 

Chief Caudle stated he understood the shortage of communication with the Tyler household was irritating, and he realized from the best way this case was dealt with how he and his staff ought to deal with additional circumstances transferring ahead.

SUGGESTED: Michaela Tyler’s household and mates mourn tragic lack of 28-year-old in Sweeny

“The place I really feel like we’re able to dealing with most something in Sweeny, I am additionally man sufficient to say, but when we will not, I’ll by no means hesitate to succeed in out for assist,” stated the chief. “You’ll be able to’t put a greenback signal on the worth of a life or the standard if an investigation but when you do not have that worth right here however be sensible sufficient to succeed in out to who does and that is what we did.”

Dying of Robert Lee Phillips III replace

Sixteen-year-old Robert Lee Phillips was killed on the Windmill Run Condo and there may be nonetheless no arrest. 

The Sweeny police chief says the investigation takes time, however he tells FOX 26 he feels they’re near handing over an excellent case to the district lawyer.

What we all know:

Chief Caudle says that there have been narcotics concerned within the demise of Robert Lee Phillips.

“We do have concepts it was a state of affairs gone unhealthy,” stated Chief Caudle. “We didn’t have bodily proof on the scene per se, we didn’t have video cameras. Now we have a group that lives over there that, not solely did no person see something however no person was speaking. Now we have the few those that have been speaking, and we later discovered have been fully mendacity.”

Teen’s Sweeny homicide stays unanswered months later

16-year-old Robert Phillipps III was killed Easter Sunday, months after one other sufferer was killed on the identical Sweeny condominium advanced. The Sweeny police chief tells FOX 26’s Leslie DelasBour why there are nonetheless no solutions for Robert’s demise.

Caudle stated there have been inconsistencies in interviews in Phillip’s case which have led to his workplace placing out warrants. He provides that it’s irritating, however his workplace feels they’re near nailing the suspects.

“When this second demise occurred over there, folks instantly stated we don’t wish to dwell there anymore. Folks began transferring out. A few of these folks have been potential witnesses that we’ve talked to earlier than, and now we’re going again, and they’re not there, and we’d haven’t had good contact data that basically did quite a lot of injury to that investigation,” Caudle stated. “I really feel like based mostly on our assembly at the moment and my dialogue with the sheriff’s division investigators which might be serving to us and in addition the Texas Rangers there may be going to be accountability on this case.:

Chief Caudle says that after classes realized within the Michael Tyler case, he’s working to make it possible for fees on this case do not take 9 months. 

“That standoffishness or lack of communication, I ought to say, was a results of ensuring I didn’t do one thing fallacious or give false hope or compromise and investigation,” stated Caudle. “It is bought to begin on the prime, I’ve bought to ensure I am on the market, and I’m extra accessible.” 

The chief says he hopes the Sweeny group will regain belief in him and his division.

“I hate some issues have taken so long as they’ve, however I can promise you and promise the household it’s not wasted time. “It is time that is wanted to make it possible for when accountability is put on the market, it isn’t one thing these persons are going to get out of,” stated Caudle. “Gaining the respect again gaining the boldness again we’ve superb relationships on this group. I wish to make sure that they keep strong.”