NTTA Suing Toll Violators

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The North Texas Tollway Authority is filing lawsuits against drivers with unpaid toll bills.

As of the end of February, attorneys have filed approximately 75 lawsuits against violators who owe unpaid tolls and fines, the agency said.

The NTTA said it was in the beginning stages and expects to the number of lawsuits to "significantly" increase.

"The decision to file is based on whether filing a lawsuit is in the NTTA's best financial interest," the agency said in a statement.

Many drivers aren't happy that the NTTA is taking people to court.

"Maybe it would be justified if they were on the ball, getting their bills on time," said Eric Domuret of Houston. "The fact that they are taking people to court when they can't stay on the ball upsets me. Probably makes things easier for them; taking us to court seems backhanded to me."

Domuret said he's gotten a second late notice on more than one occasion after never receiving a first bill.

"It's ridiculous," he said.

The move is the agency's latest effort to collect unpaid tolls.

Last year, the NTTA began posting a list of its top toll violators. Since the list's inception in July, the agency has collected $2.8 million from 12,808 people who paid in full or made payment agreements.

As of March 1, the list contains nearly 25,000 names. It can be found on the NTTA's website.

According to the list of top 100 toll violators, the top 100 collectively owe millions in unpaid fines and fees. As of March 1, each person on the list owes more than $78,000.

The top 100 toll violators list names Melissa S. Martinez, of Sachse, as the top violator with $153,000 in unpaid tolls and fees.

The NTTA referred 6,000 randomly chosen offenders from the top toll violators list to six different law firms last fall.

"Firms have been contacting and, in some cases, negotiating with people assigned to them," the NTTA said in a statement.

In a list of the referred names on its website, the NTTA said that all of the violators had accumulated more than 100 unpaid tolls, received more than 16 invoices and had cycled through more than 180 days of requests for payment.

The list of drivers that were referred to attorneys can be found on the NTTA's website.

The agency is encouraging those contacted by law firms to work out a settlement.

Everyone on the list should contact the NTTA to resolve their outstanding tolls, the agency said.

Toll violators are also subject to criminal citations, the NTTA said.

The NTTA said it is currently asking the state Legislature to block the vehicle registration for an owner who has a significant amount of outstanding tolls.

NBC 5's Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

More: Top Toll Violators Referred to Law Firms

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Bees Are Buzzing Problem for Saginaw Family

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A Saginaw couple says aggressive Africanized bees are holding them hostage.

For the last five years, the bees have been swarming their backyard, Annie and Larry Antwine said.

"We can't live like this," Annie Antwine said. "It's like there's no freedom."

On a number of occasions, the bees have forced away contract workers there to do work on electrical equipment in the yard.

Aaron Garcia, a bee expert with Bee Charmer, told NBC 5 that Africanized bees are extremely territorial and very aggressive.

"If you're walking past an Africanized beehive, they're just going to hit you, sting you as hard as they can," said Garcia, who was working in the backyard of a Keller family that has had a bee problem for seven years.

Large Beehive Relocated From Denton Home

A beekeeper carefully removed on Thursday a massive beehive that had formed in the eaves of a home in Denton.

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The Antwines said they initially tried fixes such as setting fire to the bees and pouring Pine Sol on them, but none of their efforts were effective. Three years ago, the couple hired a beekeeper to help get rid of their unwanted guests, but even that didn't solve the problem.

Garcia suggests calling an expert if you have a problem with bees, saying the so-called "quick fix" home remedies are ineffective and often dangerous.

"The bees you see are just a fraction of what's on the inside -- thousands and thousands of bees," he said.

The Antwines said their bees are centered around the shed in the corner of their backyard and seem to come up from under it. They want to burn down the shed, but city ordinances do not allow it.

On Thursday, beekeepers relocated a colony of Africanized bees from a Denton home to private land out in the country. The large beehive had formed in the eaves of the Peggy Norton's home, even protruding into the attic.

"Right now is swarming season," Garcia said. "We're seeing a lot of swarming calls right now -- we've had 20 just today."

If you're unable to afford a professional, the best thing to do is simply leave the bees alone, Garcia said. He also suggests wearing light-colored clothes. Bees have a difficult time seeing lighter colors, which is why you regularly see beekeepers wearing white.

If an Africanized bee or any other of bee stings you, scrape the stinger with your fingernail rather than trying to pinch it out, Garcia said. Pinching makes it much worse, he said.

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AA's New Livery Soon Could Become Its Old Look

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American Airlines is looking toward the future, but the "new American" that was rolled out in January might soon be a thing of the past.

The Fort Worth-based airline debuted its new livery in January, holding a big rollout for its new look.

Some even speculated that the livery -- which was unveiled before American and US Airways voted to combine -- was a combination of the two airlines' looks and a hint at the merger.

But there's a chance the livery could change again.

Incoming American Airlines CEO and current US Airways CEO Doug Parker made remarks to flight attendants and pilots on Tuesday that suggested the airline's future look is uncertain.

"Maybe we need to do something slightly different than that," he said when asked directly. "It may be something dramatically different than that. I really don't know the answer."

"The only reason this is an issue now is because they just did it right in the middle, which kind of makes it confusing, so that gives us an opportunity, actually, to decide if we are going to do something different because we have so many airplanes to paint," Parker went on to say.

His comments sparked a number of questions about the future of will be the world's largest airline.

"A merger is a work in progress," said Mike Davis, and economist at Southern Methodist University. "It's going to take a long time to work out all of the details. This rebranding thing is a small detail. Symbolically, it's important, but there are many more things that need to be worked out before they're effectively merged."

American Airlines spokeswoman Stacey Frantz released the following statement Thursday:

"We remain committed to building the new American -- one fully reflective of the new, combined company. So, while we will be painting new aircraft as they come into the fleet this year and beginning to update signage and other environments throughout the system with our new look, we are mindful that we are now creating an even better brand through our merger. In other words, our new brand will be about far more than our new look. It will be about providing our customers with a robust and significantly expanded network, the best alliance partners, an upgraded fleet that will be one of the most modern in the industry, continued investment in products and services our customers value most, and a brand new American attitude reflective of our combined cultures. So a long way of saying stay tuned because there's a lot more great brand work in store. Doug Parker and the US Airways team have reviewed the extensive work that has gone into developing our brand strategy -- which goes well beyond logo and livery -- and are very interested to learn more as we work together to determine the best go-forward strategy as we move towards the proposed merger."

In an email, a US Airways representative referenced Frantz's statement, saying, "We concur with every word it contains."

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Family Survives High-Speed Crash Caused by Hogs

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A North Texas family wants everyone to know about the real dangers of driving along one of Texas' newest toll roads — and it has nothing to do with the 85-mph speed limit.

Jackie Anderson, of Mount Vernon, says her family was driving on Texas Highway 130 near Austin at about midnight last Friday when they hit 25 to 30 feral hogs crossing the highway.

"All of a sudden, it seems like I was 100 feet when I noticed them — a pack of wild feral hogs," said her husband, David Anderson.

Their SUV rolled 10 times.

"We must have rolled and flipped for 300 feet before the car landed on [the] driver's side," David Anderson said.

Family Survives Crash With Feral Hogs

Jackie Anderson's family was involved in a rollover crash on Texas Highway 130 after crashing into 25 to 30 feral hogs.

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The family, including their 5-week-old granddaughter survived the crash, but one of the family's dogs died. Another was lost but found four days later with a broken leg.

Jackie Anderson, who was in the front passenger seat, said she remembers thinking she wouldn't live through the crash. She sustained serious injuries — a concussion, seat belt burn and soft-tissue injuries all over her body.

Jackie Anderson said she wants Texas drivers to know about the very real feral-hog problem and questions why the state hasn't done more to warn drivers of the danger or try to keep them from entering the roadway.

The Andersons said they only saw one sign on the road, near Lockhart. More lighting and signage could have helped, they said.

"Knowing that I could have seen one light bar that said, 'Careful, feral hogs,' I would've taken a different route," Jackie Anderson said. "It just makes me sick."

There have been several reports of drivers hitting hogs and deer on the Texas toll road, which has the nation's fastest speed limit, since it opened in October.

The Lockhart Police Department released video in October that showed a pack of feral hogs roaming near the highway. 

NBC 5 DFW reported on the danger when the hogs cross the road at night and a program that pays hunters to kill feral hogs.

In October, SH 130 Concession Co., the private company that runs the 41-mile portion of Texas Highway 130, said it would put up temporary electronic message boards warning of wildlife in the area until permanent signs could be installed.

The Texas Department of Transportation said the safety of drivers is its top priority.

"Wildlife roadway crossings are a global problem. But we have already taken some measures to protect drivers on this highway. We currently have 'Wildlife Crossing' signs posted along the ROW of this highway," agency spokeswoman Veronica Beyer said in a statement Thursday. " We continue to work with the Concession company to identify what additional measures may be appropriate to improve driver safety. It's also important that drivers pay close attention and focus 100 percent of their attention on driving."

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Extended Warranty: Waste of Money or Peace of Mind?

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While millions of consumers purchase extended warranties for peace of mind, some experts advise shoppers to think twice before buying them.

Extended warranties were introduced in the late 1980's and have been marketed to consumers ever since. While manufacturer's warranties for many products typically cover the first year, extended warranties usually cover two or three years.

"Through our analysis of hundreds of thousands of responses to our Annual Questionnaire, we have determined that a repair during that limited time frame is unlikely," said Mark Kotkin, Director of Survey Research at the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

Kotkin also said the cost of the repair is generally not much more than the cost of the warranty and expensive repairs for recent purchases are "exceedingly rare."

Still, consumers look at these service contracts as insurance policies.

Richardson resident Betty Pratt said she has bought an extended warranty for every appliance in her home, from the refrigerator to the dishwasher.

She said she'd never thought twice about the protection these service contracts offer until she called to get her stainless-steel GE Profile dishwasher serviced.

"It isn't heating as well as I would like it.  Even with the extended heating on there, it isn't as hot as it should be," said Pratt.

She said she bought the appliance three years ago for more than $1,500 from The Great Indoors, a Sears-owned store that, until 2012, had a location in North Dallas that is now closed.  She said she picked that model because to her it seems easy to use.

"It's very simple. It washes china and crystal, pots and pans, a normal cycle, extra heat, delayed time and that's it," Pratt said.

At the same time she spent an extra $299.99 for a five-year extended warranty offered by Sears, buying into the sales person's pitch.

"It was the manufacturer warranty isn't very extensive," Pratt said the salesman told her. "We offer a warranty that will add to that; cover you for three to five years.  It will cover everything."

But when she called Sears to make good on the contract and service the dishwasher, she was told by a customer service representative her appliance was "too high end" and Sears' technicians were not trained to service it. 

After spending hours on the phone and writing emails, the Sears Corporate Office left her the following two options: Find her own technician, provided that Sears may or may not pay for, or accept a refund for a prorated portion of what's left on her warranty.  She said these options are not what she bought into when she purchased the warranty. 

That's when Pratt called NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit.  We contacted Sears.

"Sears services most brands, but there are products on which we sell warranties that Sears employees do not service. However, in those cases we contract with providers who are trained, and who go through a rigorous authorization process," explained Larry Costello, Sears Holdings Public Relations Director, via email.

"Regarding customer Pratt's situation with her GE Profile dishwasher, we're confident this was a very isolated incident, caused in part by a technical glitch in our routing software and in part by associate error which prevented us from locating a provider who could service their product," Costello said.

Question of Price

"It comes down to a question of price.  If the five-year extended warranty were free, I dare say even Consumer Reports would find it valuable.  If it were twice the price of the washing machine, nobody would find it to be valuable," said Eric Arnum the editor of Warranty Week, an online newsletter and web site for warranty professionals.

"The goal should be to balance the risk and the reward properly so that it is a value to the consumer, and is financially viable to the seller and to the insurance company that backs it.  I think there is a price where that can be achieved," Arnum said.

The Service Contract Industry Council, a trade association representing the extended warranty industry, said service contracts can help consumers save money because the cost of repairs can be greater than the cost of the extended warranty. 

However, it tells consumers to avoid purchasing a contract if they feel overly pressured by sales personnel.  And for consumers who opt in, the association recommends that consumers read the provisions carefully.  Keep paperwork, and use the contract for even small covered repairs to maximize its value.

In Texas, consumers have what's called a free-look period of 30 days.  If you buy a service contract, you have 30 days to change your mind and get a full refund for the price of the contract, unless you have made a claim on that contract. 

Days after NBC 5 called Sears, the company scheduled a local technician to service Pratt's dishwasher and even offered her a brand new one.  But Pratt said Sears is missing the mark.

"I want Sears to change this policy for people.  You're saying you can fix it. Then you'd better hire the people and train them to service what you are selling.  You're selling a warranty; stand behind that warranty.  Do what you say you can do," she said.

That, according to Pratt, means standing behind the warranties it sells. 

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Amber Alert: Teen in "Imminent Danger"

Ray Villeda, NBC 5 News

Investigators believe 16-year-old Aron Jones was taken by 24-year-old Tarvarus Stuckey.

Amber Alert: Teen May Be in "Imminent...

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Amber Alert Issued for 16-Year-Old

Dallas police issued an Amber Alert for 16-year-old Aron Jones (left) they believe he was kidnapped by 24-year-old Tavarus Stuckey (right). Police say he's being held against his will.

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Dallas police are searching for a teen they say is in imminent danger.

Aron Lavon Jones, 16, was last seen at about 5 p.m. Tuesday walking away from his home along the 7900 block of Lost Mirage Drive. Jones was with two other males at the time and has not been seen or heard from since.

Police said they have reason to believe Jones is a kidnapping victim and in imminent danger, though they didn't disclose what led them to that conclusion.

Jones is black and stands about 5 feet 7 inches tall.  He weighs approximately 160 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.  He was last seen wearing khaki pants, a black Polo shirt and blue and white sneakers.

Investigators believe Jones was taken by 24-year-old Tarvarus Stuckey (pictured below). They may be traveling in a 2005 gold Land Rover with Texas license plate DN2B787.

 Photo provided by DPD

Stuckey does have a criminal record that includes aggravated robbery.

Anyone with information about Jones' location is asked to call 911 or the Dallas Police Department.

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With 13th DUI, Man Finally Heads to Prison

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It was way back in 1984 when Lawrence Konyves was convicted for his first DUI. But the Yardley, Penn., man, who was 16 at the time, was just getting started, receiving a dozen more DUI charges since then. Amazingly, Konyves managed to avoid any significant jail time. That was until Monday, when he was sentenced to 5 to 10 years in state prison for his 13th DUI.

Yet while Konyves is finally getting justice, an important question remains. How did he avoid state prison time for that long? Prosecutors say he did it by manipulating the system.

"If he was sentenced to jail time, as he was as the law mandates, he would manage to talk people into a house arrest situation which he served from home," said Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler. "Or a situation where he was in a halfway house."

According to court records, Konyves immediately checked himself into a halfway house for months at a time whenever he was arrested for DUI. When he went before a judge, they were often lenient toward him, putting his time in rehab toward his sentence so that he never spent any significant time behind bars.

In Pennsylvania, a DUI conviction carries a sentence of two and a half to five years. Heckler says judges are inclined to give the minimum when a defendant pleads guilty and shows they're getting help, as Konyves did every time he was arrested.

"Somebody just didn't pay enough attention to this guy and say, 'Wait a minute,'" said Heckler.

That finally changed on Monday, however, when a top prosecutor in Heckler's office convinced a judge to give Konyves the harshest sentence. According to the Philly Burbs, the judge rejected Konyves' plea to be permitted to serve time partially in the county jail and partially in an in-patient treatment program. Instead, he sentenced him to at least five years in state prison.

Prior to his sentencing, many victims wondered whether Konyves had to kill someone before he spent time in state prison.

"Happily in this case, we got him a bit before that," said Heckler.

NBC 10 Philadelphia's Katy Zachry reached out to Konyves' attorney on Tuesday but never received a call back.
 

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Former Trooper Indicted in Roadside Cavity Search

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The female Texas trooper who performed a roadside cavity search on two Irving women has been indicted by a Dallas County grand jury.

The two women from Irving are suing Trooper David Farrell, Trooper Kelley Helleson and the director of the Department of Public Safety for what they call an unconstitutional search without probable cause.

The Department of Public Safety terminated Trooper Kelly Helleson. Dallas County District Attorney spokeswoman Debbie Denmon confirmed on Monday that a grand jury indicted Helleson on two counts of sexual assault and two counts of official oppression.

NBC 5 contacted Helleson's attorney for comment. "The charged against my client are untrue," said Bob Baskett. Helleson is currently appealing her DPS termination.

Denmon said Farrell was indicted on a theft charge. The DPS put Farrell on paid suspension after the incident.

July Incident Makes National Headlines

On July 13, while driving along State Highway 161, Angel Dobbs and her niece Ashley Dobbs were stopped for littering by Farrell. In the dashcam video released by the women and their attorney, Farrell can be heard telling the women they would both be cited for littering for throwing cigarette butts out of the car.

Farrell then returned to his cruiser and, in the video, can be heard calling female Trooper Helleson to the scene to search both women whom he said were acting weird.

While waiting for Helleson to arrive, Farrell asked Angel Dobbs to step out of the vehicle and began questioning her about marijuana use. In the video, the trooper is heard telling Dobbs he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle while asking her several times how much pot was in the car.

After Helleson arrived, she can be seen in the dashcam video putting on blue latex gloves to conduct a search of both women. According to the lawsuit, when Angel Dobbs asked about the gloves, Helleson "told her not to worry about that."

In the lawsuit, Dobbs said the trooper conducted the cavity search on the roadside, illuminated by the police car's headlights, in full view of any passing motorists.

"This has been an eye-opening experience for me. I've never been pulled over, never searched like this. I was totally violated over there a few minutes ago... this is so embarrassing to me," Angel Dobbs said on the video.

"I've never been so humiliated or so violated or felt so molested in my entire life," Angel Dobbs told NBC 5.

Dobbs said she never gave consent for the trooper to "frisk, pat-down, search or otherwise touch her" and that she never gave consent for Farrell to search her vehicle -- which he can be seen doing in the dashcam video while the cavity search was under way.

Dobbs said she was powerless to stop it. "What are you going to say? What's going to happen to you if you challenge that authority?" she said.

With the cavity search concluded, Farrell then asked Dobbs about prescription medications found in the car.  Dobbs said they were for her thyroid and for migraines. According to the lawsuit, Dobbs also suffers from a medical condition that was irritated by the search.

Meanwhile, Helleson can then be seen performing the same cavity search on Dobbs' niece, Ashley.

"It's because somebody is a daily smoker in that car. OK, you can attribute it to that," Farrell can be heard saying on the recording.

The lawsuit further alleges that Helleson performed searches on both women, touching both their anus and vaginas, without changing the latex gloves between searches.

"I don't think anybody needs to have to feel, or go through what we went through," Ashley Dobbs said. "It crosses my mind every day. It's humiliating," she said.

After searching the entire car and finding no narcotics, Farrell then administered a DWI test that Dobbs passed, the lawsuit said. The women were then issued warnings for littering and released at the scene.

The lawsuit goes on to say that a bottle of prescribed hydrocodone was missing from Dobbs' car and purse after the search. The women returned to the scene of the traffic stop the next day to search for the medication, but it was nowhere to be found.

Their lawyers say the search was illegal and a complaint about it was filed in August but that DPS Texas Rangers who investigated the incident took no action.

"This is outside the constitutional grounds by a mile. It's not even close," attorney Scott Palmer said. "This has to stop. These two need to be stopped. There's no telling how many other people they've done this to and we hope that others come forward."

Attorney Charles Soechting Jr. said his father was a DPS trooper and he has great respect for the agency. "But in this instance they have completely failed the citizens of Texas," Soechting said.

Soechting said a records request to DPS produced no policy that allows for cavity  search of any suspect in public.

"What we're dealing with is a Class C misdemeanor. It does not justify any type of pat-down, let alone an invasive search of cavities of women,"" he said.

DPS has not commented on the case.

The women are requesting a trial by jury and are asking for unspecified, compensatory and exemplary damages and interest as well as recovery of attorney's fees and court costs.

NBC 5's Frank Heinz and Ken Kalthoff contributed to this article.

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Hurst Police Release 911 Calls in 3-Year-Old's Death

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Father Speaks After Child Dies from Assault

A man who identified himself the father of 3-year-old Anastasia Williams spoke to NBC 5 on Monday saying he's grief-stricken over the sudden loss of his daughter. The ME said the child was assaulted and died after she was struck in the stomach.

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Hurst police on Monday released the 911 calls made about a 3-year-old girl who died of an assault last week.

Police say the father of Anastasia Williams found the girl unresponsive in her bedroom on Friday afternoon and called 911 from a neighbor's apartment. According to the autopsy report, she died of a cut to the liver due to blunt trauma to the abdomen.

"My daughter, she's sick," her father told the 911 operator. "Can you hurry up and send someone over here?"

The operator responded: "Sir, I need to know what's going on. What do you mean, your daughter is sick?"

"She's sick," the father said.

The operator continued to ask questions. Police say she was following the proper protocol.

"OK, sir, I'm getting them on the way, but I need you to look and see -- is her chest rising and falling?" the operator said.

The call disconnected when the dispatcher was about to guide the father through CPR.

Police responded to the apartment four minutes later.

When 911 called back, the neighbor picked up the phone.

"Yes, ya'll need to send someone to that man's rescue with a 3-year-old child," the neighbor said. "I am his neighbor. I don't know him. He knocked on my door, I answered the--"

The operator then told her that help was on the way.

"Ma'am, if we have another problem with 911 and somebody dies, I'll personally take y'all out, and that's real," the neighbor said.

The autopsy report ruled that Williams' injury was not accidental but was the result of an assault. Police said earlier Monday that investigators had yet to determine when the deadly hit occurred.

The police department said that because Monday was a county holiday, investigators have not yet been able to discuss the autopsy results the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office.

A man who identified himself as Williams' father spoke with NBC 5 on Monday morning but did not provide his name when he answered the door.

Police are not calling him a suspect, so his name has not been released.

The father said he was grief-stricken over his daughter's death, calling it "unexplainable." He said he did not know how the trauma to Williams' abdomen occurred.

"No, we don't. And at the moment, that's all I got to say right now. Thank you," he said.

NBC 5's Jeff Smith contributed to this report.

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DNA Links 3 Lake Highlands Rapes to One Attacker

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Dallas police now say they are looking for only one person in connection with three sexual assaults in Lake Highlands that occurred over the last month.

The series of attacks took place Feb. 22, March 15 and March 19 at homes along Ferndale Road and Aldwick Drive.

Maj. Jeff Cotner said Friday that DNA evidence obtained from the cases all point to one attacker.

"Today, Southwest Institute Forensics Sciences (SWIFS) released their findings into forensic evidence collected from the March 15 and 19 sexual assaults in the Lake Highlands community of Dallas. The DNA profile from these offenses matched the DNA profile obtained from the Feb. 22 offense. We have one suspect," Cotner said. "The DNA profile has been entered into statewide and national databases. No match was identified. He is unknown."

DPD: Looking for One Attacker in Lake Highlands

Dallas police say they are looking for only one person in connection with three sexual assaults in Lake Highlands that occurred over the last month. The sketches, police say, are from the first two offenses on Feb. 22 and March 15.

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Cotner said they believe the man sustained injuries in the most recent attack and may have scratches on his face, cheeks and neck as well as bite marks on his hands and fingers. Police said the man may also have a deep laceration on one finger.

During a news conference Friday, police revealed two sketches of the attacker from the first two assaults. Victim descriptions of the attacker have varied and included references to the man being black or Latino, between 5 feet 6 inches tall and 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 140 and 200 pounds.

"Our victims provided this information to us," Cotner said. "They encountered a very violent attack. This information is through their trauma. Based upon the individual dynamics of their attack, this is what they can give us. Our suspect can be black; he can be dark-complected. He can be Hispanic. We don't know."

Despite the different descriptions, Cotner said DNA evidence indicates all three attacks were committed by the same person.

"The DNA profile tells us it is one guy for all three," Cotner said.

Dallas police said an anonymous donor has increased the reward from $5,000 to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case. To be eligible for the reward, the tip must be received through Crime Stoppers by calling 877-373-8477.

Officials said more than 100 tips have been received in the case, and they urge the public to continue reporting anything suspicious. They urge citizens to call 911 if the situation requires an immediate response. An additional tip line is available at 214-670-4415, though tipsters using that number will not be eligible for the reward.

Timeline of Attacks

Feb. 22 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted in her home after a man broke in at about 12:45 a.m. and assaulted her in her bed at knife-point. Police said the attacker entered the home through a window and was described as 35-years-old, black with bald or short hair and that he spoke with an African accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 lbs.

March 15 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted at about 10 p.m. inside her home on Ferndale Road after a man entered the home through a window. The man was described as Latino and in his 20s with a round, chubby face and a buzz cut. He was clean-shaven and spoke English with a Spanish accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 lbs.

March 19 attack on Aldwick Drive: A woman was assaulted at about 6:45 a.m. inside her home on Aldwick Drive after a man kicked in the front door. The man is described as Latino, in his early 20s with light skin, a thin build and a thin mustache. He is estimated to be 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. The man spoke English with a Spanish accent and wore a gray hoodie and black leather gloves. Police said the man may have a scratch on his body.

Residents on Edge

Despite the heavy police presence in the area, Lake Highlands residents say they are not letting their guard down.

Kristi Manning said she has armed herself in case the worst happens.

"Every time I get out of my car, I look both ways," she said. I have my keys out -- they say that's one of the best ways to defend yourself."

She said she also has started carrying mace for the first time.

One of the assaults happened a few blocks from Seth Harrington's home. He updated his alarm once the rapes started in the neighborhood.

"My alarm was working before; that didn't mean I set it every day," he said. "But now, I make sure every time I leave, I set my alarm. And I actually made sure the window-break system was working, as well."

NBC 5's Omar Villafranca contributed to this report.

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2 Arrested in Slaying of 79-Year-Old Woman

Eric King, NBC 5 News

Dallas police have arrested two men in the slaying of a 79-year-old woman who was killed in her East Dallas home. David Herron, 29, and Daniel Brooks, 28, will be charged with capital murder.

2 Arrested in East Dallas Slaying

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Dallas police say they have made two arrests in the slaying of a 79-year-old woman who was killed in her East Dallas home two weeks ago.

Police found the body of Avanell Cowgill in home home in the 11300 block of Earlywood Drive on March 9 after her daughter asked officers to check on her.

Dallas police said late Friday night that David Herron, 29, and Daniel Brooks, 28, will be charged with capital murder in Cowgill's death.

"It was a brutal murder," Maj. Jeff Cottner said. "It was a clearly irresponsible and just dasterdly deed. We don't know why. They took a life of a grandmother, needlessly."

Police said Brooks was in custody at DPD headquarters, while Herron was at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials did not elaborate on his injuries or what caused them.

Investigators said Herron and Brooks took Cowgill's purse and used her credit cards to buy an electronic device at Wal-Mart, a purchase that was captured on surveillance video.

Dallas police last week released surveillance photos and video of two men at a Wal-Mart who used Cowgill's credit cards.

Surveillance video also recorded Herron and Brooks attempting to withdraw money from Cowgill's account at an ATM, police said.

Police learned where Herron and Brooks sold the electronic device they had purchased with Cowgill's credit card and then learned the identity of Brooks. Investigators then determined that the two had been arrested Wednesday and were being held in the Richardson jail on an unrelated theft charge.

Investigators have said that Cowgill left church at approximately 3:30 p.m. on March 7 before going to a store and then home. Police have said she may have been killed that night.

NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.

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DNA Links 3 Lake Highlands Rapes to One Attacker

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Dallas police now say they are looking for only one person in connection with three sexual assaults in Lake Highlands that occurred over the last month.

The series of attacks took place Feb. 22, March 15 and March 19 at homes along Ferndale Road and Aldwick Drive.

Maj. Jeff Cotner said Friday that DNA evidence obtained from the cases all point to one attacker.

"Today, Southwest Institute Forensics Sciences (SWIFS) released their findings into forensic evidence collected from the March 15 and 19 sexual assaults in the Lake Highlands community of Dallas. The DNA profile from these offenses matched the DNA profile obtained from the Feb. 22 offense. We have one suspect," Cotner said. "The DNA profile has been entered into statewide and national databases. No match was identified. He is unknown."

DPD: Looking for One Attacker in Lake Highlands

Dallas police say they are looking for only one person in connection with three sexual assaults in Lake Highlands that occurred over the last month. The sketches, police say, are from the first two offenses on Feb. 22 and March 15.

More Photos and Videos

Cotner said they believe the man sustained injuries in the most recent attack and may have scratches on his face, cheeks and neck as well as bite marks on his hands and fingers. Police said the man may also have a deep laceration on one finger.

During a news conference Friday, police revealed two sketches of the attacker from the first two assaults. Victim descriptions of the attacker have varied and included references to the man being black or Latino, between 5 feet 6 inches tall and 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing between 140 and 200 pounds.

"Our victims provided this information to us," Cotner said. "They encountered a very violent attack. This information is through their trauma. Based upon the individual dynamics of their attack, this is what they can give us. Our suspect can be black; he can be dark-complected. He can be Hispanic. We don't know."

Despite the different descriptions, Cotner said DNA evidence indicates all three attacks were committed by the same person.

"The DNA profile tells us it is one guy for all three," Cotner said.

Dallas police said an anonymous donor has increased the reward from $5,000 to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case. To be eligible for the reward, the tip must be received through Crime Stoppers by calling 877-373-8477.

Officials said more than 100 tips have been received in the case, and they urge the public to continue reporting anything suspicious. They urge citizens to call 911 if the situation requires an immediate response. An additional tip line is available at 214-670-4415, though tipsters using that number will not be eligible for the reward.

Timeline of Attacks

Feb. 22 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted in her home after a man broke in at about 12:45 a.m. and assaulted her in her bed at knife-point. Police said the attacker entered the home through a window and was described as 35-years-old, black with bald or short hair and that he spoke with an African accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 180 lbs.

March 15 attack on Ferndale Road: A woman was assaulted at about 10 p.m. inside her home on Ferndale Road after a man entered the home through a window. The man was described as Latino and in his 20s with a round, chubby face and a buzz cut. He was clean-shaven and spoke English with a Spanish accent. He is estimated to be about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 200 lbs.

March 19 attack on Aldwick Drive: A woman was assaulted at about 6:45 a.m. inside her home on Aldwick Drive after a man kicked in the front door. The man is described as Latino, in his early 20s with light skin, a thin build and a thin mustache. He is estimated to be 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. The man spoke English with a Spanish accent and wore a gray hoodie and black leather gloves. Police said the man may have a scratch on his body.

Residents on Edge

Despite the heavy police presence in the area, Lake Highlands residents say they are not letting their guard down.

Kristi Manning said she has armed herself in case the worst happens.

"Every time I get out of my car, I look both ways," she said. I have my keys out -- they say that's one of the best ways to defend yourself."

She said she also has started carrying mace for the first time.

One of the assaults happened a few blocks from Seth Harrington's home. He updated his alarm once the rapes started in the neighborhood.

"My alarm was working before; that didn't mean I set it every day," he said. "But now, I make sure every time I leave, I set my alarm. And I actually made sure the window-break system was working, as well."

NBC 5's Omar Villafranca contributed to this report.

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2 Arrested in Slaying of 79-Year-Old Woman

Eric King, NBC 5 News

Dallas police have arrested two men in the slaying of a 79-year-old woman who was killed in her East Dallas home. David Herron, 29, and Daniel Brooks, 28, will be charged with capital murder.

2 Arrested in East Dallas Slaying

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http://www.nbcdfw.com/video/#!/news/local/2-Arrested-in-East-Dallas-Slaying/199648571

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Dallas police say they have made two arrests in the slaying of a 79-year-old woman who was killed in her East Dallas home two weeks ago.

Police found the body of Avanell Cowgill in home home in the 11300 block of Earlywood Drive on March 9 after her daughter asked officers to check on her.

Dallas police said late Friday night that David Herron, 29, and Daniel Brooks, 28, will be charged with capital murder in Cowgill's death.

"It was a brutal murder," Maj. Jeff Cottner said. "It was a clearly irresponsible and just dasterdly deed. We don't know why. They took a life of a grandmother, needlessly."

Police said Brooks was in custody at DPD headquarters, while Herron was at a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Officials did not elaborate on his injuries or what caused them.

Investigators said Herron and Brooks took Cowgill's purse and used her credit cards to buy an electronic device at Wal-Mart, a purchase that was captured on surveillance video.

Dallas police last week released surveillance photos and video of two men at a Wal-Mart who used Cowgill's credit cards.

Surveillance video also recorded Herron and Brooks attempting to withdraw money from Cowgill's account at an ATM, police said.

Police learned where Herron and Brooks sold the electronic device they had purchased with Cowgill's credit card and then learned the identity of Brooks. Investigators then determined that the two had been arrested Wednesday and were being held in the Richardson jail on an unrelated theft charge.

Investigators have said that Cowgill left church at approximately 3:30 p.m. on March 7 before going to a store and then home. Police have said she may have been killed that night.

NBC 5's Eric King contributed to this report.

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