Man Wanted In Parker County Murder Arrested
Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier announced Clayton Ray Strong, 73, was captured in Mexico.
“We can confirm Clayton Strong was arrested in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico on firearm charges,” said Sheriff Authier. “Mexican authorities eventually learned Strong had an active murder warrant and contacted my office.”
Strong was wanted on a murder warrant for the death of Shirley Barrington Weatherley, 72. Shirley was found Aug. 6, in the front yard of her residence in the 6000-Block of Midway Road, in Springtown, by family members who had not heard from her for several days prior to the homicide.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause and manner of Shirley’s death as a homicide by gunshot wound to the chest following an autopsy.
The early stages of the investigation led sheriff’s investigators to Eagle Pass, Texas, where they obtained video footage of the suspect disposing of a weapon in a department store parking lot on the same day the crime was discovered.
Strong was arrested in Mexico on charges of unlawful possession of weapons. Mexican authorities notified the Parker County Sheriff’s Office that Strong was positively identified around 11 p.m. Tuesday.
“We are working with the State Department and Federal authorities as well as the Mexican government to extradite Strong back to Parker County to face the murder charge and prosecution,” said Sheriff Authier.
Sheriff Authier added he would like to thank the Parker County Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (FAST), who worked daily to locate Strong, and to the Texas Rangers, Eagle Pass Sheriff’s Office and Mexican authorities who were also vital in the investigation and apprehension of Strong.
