HOUSTON – A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the murder of a 71-year-old woman who was robbed and run over in east Harris County.
Andrew Williams, 40, has been charged with capital murder. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said Williams was arrested Tuesday and taken to the Harris County jail.
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Arrest update: Andrew Williams (4-8-81) has been charged with Capital Murder in the death of Mrs. Martha Medina (71). Williams was arrested today and is now in the Harris County Jail. He was out on bond in connection to a previous Capital Murder. #HouNews https://t.co/8qWEGp8RCH
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 6, 2021
On Sept. 23, deputies said Martha Medina was run over and killed after being robbed at a McDonald’s restaurant located at 430 Uvalde.
Sheriff Gonzalez said Williams was out on bond in connection to a previous capital murder, in 2019, when Medina was killed.
According to court documents, Williams shot and killed Chima Ogbonnaya with a firearm while attempting to rob another man.
Bond initially was denied, but later granted at $150,000 on Jan. 21, according to court documents.
Williams’ previous capital murder case was being tried in Harris County 248th District Court by Judge Hilary Unger. Unger was elected to the bench in November 2018.
KPRC2 visited Unger’s courtroom Wednesday to ask why she granted Williams’ bond, but was told the judge could not comment on a pending case.
Unger later issued a statement saying, “Also, direct your attention to the court of criminal procedure and the Texas Constitution (sections regarding bail) which requires me to set a bail.”
KPRC 2 legal analyst Brian Wice said Unger’s statement was true.
“Where a judge earns their salary, where a judge exercises judicial discretion in a constructive manner is tailoring a bond that takes into account the defendant’s prior conduct, including whether he or she may be out on six or seven bonds,” Wice said. “You can’t turn a blind eye to the fact that if I’m already on bond for six or seven different felonies I’ve already demonstrated a certain lack of respect for the criminal justice system.”
Starting Dec. 2, a new law making it harder for dangerous criminals to get out of jail will go into effect. SB6, also known as the Damon Allen Act, would create a statewide information system to provide magistrate judges with the criminal history of the defendant up for bail. Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law last month after it was passed during the special session of the 87th legislative session.
Damon Allen was a DPS trooper that was shot and killed on Thanksgiving Day in 2017 by a violent criminal out on bond.