By Wilson H.R. No. 1235 77R17530 GMW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Through the significant efforts of law enforcement 1-2 agencies and concerned citizens, 11-year-old Leah Henry of Houston 1-3 was rescued in Kerr County on May 4, 2001, after being abducted and 1-4 missing for three days; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Leah was kidnapped on May 1, 2001, after leaving her 1-6 bus from River Oaks Elementary School; authorities immediately 1-7 launched an extensive search, which came to an end after a tip from 1-8 Kerrville area residents Robert and Sharon Taylor, who spotted the 1-9 abductor's car in Kerr County; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Led by the couple's call to a hunting cabin, law 1-11 enforcement personnel confronted the abductor, Gary Dale Cox, who 1-12 had his hostage in his car; when Mr. Cox exited the car, a 1-13 quick-thinking Leah bolted from the car and fled to Kerr County 1-14 Sergeant David Billeiter, who drove her to safety; shortly 1-15 thereafter, Mr. Cox took his own life with a revolver; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Authorities had been looking for a serial kidnapper 1-17 after 11-year-old Lisa Bruno from New Orleans and 9-year-old Nykema 1-18 Augustine of San Antonio gave matching descriptions of the man who 1-19 abducted them; both girls had been held captive by Mr. Cox for 1-20 days; after being returned safely, they were then able to assist 1-21 law enforcement officers in their pursuit of Mr. Cox by providing 1-22 the invaluable descriptions; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Numerous law enforcement agencies joined together in 1-24 the search for and rescue of Leah Henry, and their professionalism 2-1 and resolve helped to save her from this harrowing situation; and 2-2 WHEREAS, The individuals from the Houston Police Department 2-3 involved in the effort included Homicide Division lieutenants G. A. 2-4 Mason, C. S. Arrington, and J. A. Buttitta, sergeants D. L. Bacon, 2-5 W. O. Allen, L. B. Smith, J. H. Binford, E. S. Mehl, L. D. Foltz, 2-6 M. L. Holbrook, C. B. Douglas, and M. L. Peters, and officers R. E. 2-7 King, E. Gonzalez, T. J. McCorvey, R. A. Swainson, M. Rodriguez, T. 2-8 Hunyh, J. L. Wright, and F. B. Boothe; Juvenile Division Lieutenant 2-9 L. L. Earls, sergeants V. R. Bishop and S. R. Gregg, and officers 2-10 D. Buse, P. Do, T. Pham, G. Rodriguez, S. P. Drehel, R. L. Callis, 2-11 V. M. Ryza, K. Cobb, J. Colunga, A. Flores, M. Robau, V. Ybarra, 2-12 and D. A. Gonzales; and Major Offenders sergeants L. G. Stoner, M. 2-13 A. Angel, M. L. Thomas, and P. J. Keys, and officers T. Janke, J. 2-14 W. Landrum, and N. Drehel, Jr.; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Houston FBI agents and task force members on the 2-16 case included special agent in charge Richard Mosquera; assistant 2-17 special agent in charge Brian Loader; assistant special agent in 2-18 charge Walter Hansen; supervisory special agents Randy Mondor, Owen 2-19 Harris, and Janet Kamerman; special agents David Resch, case-agent, 2-20 Mark Young, co-case agent, Ken Carter, Anne Cearlock, Randy Dabney, 2-21 Robert Doguim, Randy Durney, Barbara Knox Echard, Rick Gannaway, 2-22 Edward Galloway, Larry Greene, Michael Millard, Maureen Murphy, 2-23 Kristin Sheldon, Michael Stokes, Mark Telle, John Webb, and Kim 2-24 Wilkins; also active in the search and rescue were Phillip Galloway 2-25 of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Rose Marie Campbell of 2-26 the Harris County Sheriff's Office, and from District 3B Senior 2-27 Trooper Howard Brothers, Senior Trooper Robert Ynclan, and Trooper 3-1 I. Cody Klaehn; and 3-2 WHEREAS, Those from the San Antonio Division of the FBI 3-3 involved with the case included special agent in charge Roderick L. 3-4 Beverly; assistant special agents in charge Robert D. Grant and 3-5 John E. Lewis; supervisory special agents Jeffrey M. Allovio, 3-6 Judith M. Chilen, Michael Makowski, Josue M. Martinez, Thomas G. 3-7 Ruocco, and Monte Smith; special agents Osvaldo Alaniz, Miguel A. 3-8 Alba, A. Baesa, Jr., Larry Baker, Luis Barberena, Michael M. 3-9 Biasello, Jeffery S. Bolin, Greg Bowden, Kevin Brock, Kevin W. 3-10 Damuth, Lawrence J. Danielson, John DeLeon, Benjamin Delgado, 3-11 Willie Dominguez, Jr., Jim Egelston, Chris Eldridge, Thomas S. 3-12 Ensz, Nancy B. Fisher, Theodore O. Fisher, Jr., Robert M. Garcia, 3-13 Mario A. Gonzalez, Michael T. Hanley, Walter Glenn Henry, Jason V. 3-14 Herring, Darren W. Holmes, Alan Holzgrafe, Rodney Homer, Samuel S. 3-15 Houston, Jr., Nancy Houston, Curtis L. Hunt, Thomas P. Joy, Jr., 3-16 Kevin J. Katz, Michelle S. Klimt, Lesley G. Koestner, Jonathan 3-17 Lacey, J. Andre Lamonde, Robert C. Marshall, Ricardo A. Martinez, 3-18 Mark Miller, Andrea Niebergell, George B. Parks, Eric A. Parsons, 3-19 Pompa Pompa, Jeffery Proctor, A. Lamar Pruit, Laura Crowford Rich, 3-20 Manuel B. Rodriguez III, Oscar Rodriguez, Rene Salinas, Joseph M. 3-21 Schadler, Jeffrey P. Schirmer, David Alan Shepard, Cary L. 3-22 Vanderberry, Arturo Vela, Mario E. Villaplana, Michael D. Wise, 3-23 Stephen G. Woolery, and Randy Zuehike; evidence technician Elba D. 3-24 Acuna; office automated assistant Susan Cantrell; electronic 3-25 technicians Barney Cash, John M. Chandler, Jr., John M. Drzymalla, 3-26 and W. Michael Swartz; computer specialist Alan G. Connor; 3-27 information management assistants Christopher Cowley and Jason Moy; 4-1 financial analyst Sandra J. Dovalina; secretaries Bernadette 4-2 Dworaczyk, Shawn R. McBride, and Donna M. Zayac; ELSUR clerk Javier 4-3 Flores; computer supervisor John E. Fritz; investigative assistants 4-4 Joann K. Hollingworth, Terrie L. Leonard, and Louis Montez; 4-5 telecommunications manager Dennis W. Kelly; and offices services 4-6 supervisor Jennifer L. Vela; and 4-7 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Public Safety personnel 4-8 involved included, from the Aircraft Section, Lieutenant Richard 4-9 Nesby, Sergeant Ed Burris, Pilot Barry Winn, Robert Rhynesburger, 4-10 Bill Burfeind, Tim Middleton, and Mark Miller; from the Criminal 4-11 Law Enforcement--Special Crimes unit, Karen Lewis, Heidi Fischer, 4-12 Patty Subia, and Tammy Ray; from the Crime Records unit, Pam 4-13 Pierce, Connie Marak, and Angie Klein; from the Texas Rangers, 4-14 Company A--Houston, sergeants Andrew Carter, Otto Hanak, Cris Love, 4-15 and Brian Taylor; Company C--Amarillo, Sergeant Alvin Schmidt; 4-16 Company D--San Antonio, Captain C. J. Havrda, Lieutenant Lane Akin, 4-17 and sergeants Gary De Los Santos, Marrie Garcia, Tony Leal, John A. 4-18 Martin, Morgan L. Miller, and Coy L. Smith; and Company 4-19 F--Kerrville, sergeants Kyle Dean, Christine Nix, Tommy Ratliff, 4-20 and Rocky Wardlow; and from the Traffic Law Enforcement unit, 4-21 Captain Jack Hamilton; and 4-22 WHEREAS, All those associated with the effort to save Leah 4-23 Henry are truly worthy of our highest respect and admiration; as 4-24 participants in this massive manhunt, these individuals 4-25 demonstrated immense dedication to ensure the safe return of this 4-26 little girl, and it is both a privilege to pay tribute to them and 4-27 a comfort to know they are on the job each day protecting their 5-1 fellow Texans; now, therefore, be it 5-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 5-3 Legislature hereby commend all those who dedicated themselves to 5-4 finding and rescuing Leah Henry and applaud them for the intensive 5-5 effort they put forth to aid a fellow Texan.