Rexie Roy McMullen II, a 57-year-old man from Jasper, Texas, was found dead on February 9, 2022. His body was discovered in the burned-out remains of his former daughter-in-law's house. An autopsy revealed that McMullen had been shot to death before the fire. The investigation into his death led to the arrest and indictment of three individuals: Courtney Breanna Minter-McMullen, 32, of Jasper; her boyfriend, Paul James Taucer, 34, of Buna; and Jeramy Wayne Nickens, 35.
Minter-McMullen and Taucer were charged with murder, while Nickens was charged with arson.
The motive behind the crime was believed to be related to money for drugs, specifically methamphetamine. McMullen's daughter, Brandy Wyble, shared that her father had suffered a brain aneurysm and had physical and mental challenges, which led him to stay in Jasper to be closer to his grandchildren. However, it was during this time that he became vulnerable to the suspects. Wyble explained that Minter-McMullen had been married to her brother, but they divorced in 2009. She described Minter-McMullen as a difficult person who became even more problematic after allegedly becoming addicted to meth. Wyble believed that Minter-McMullen wanted to steal her father's social security money and convinced him to live with her under the pretense of being closer to his grandchildren. Once McMullen realized that Minter-McMullen did not have custody of his grandchildren, it is unclear why he stayed. Wyble suspected that either Minter-McMullen or Taucer shot her father on the night of February 4th, as he disappeared from contact on that date. Minter-McMullen was later found in possession of McMullen's wallet and cellphone weeks after the fire.
The Jasper Police Department served murder warrants to Minter-McMullen and Taucer, who were both already behind bars on previous offenses. Minter-McMullen was in jail for criminal trespassing, while Taucer was incarcerated for burglary of a building. Nickens, who admitted to setting the house on fire, was already in jail in Jefferson County when he was served a warrant for the arson charge. The bonds for Minter-McMullen and Taucer were set at $1.5 million each, while Nickens' bond was set at $250,000.
The case highlighted the tragic consequences of drug addiction and the vulnerability of individuals with physical and mental challenges. McMullen's desire to be close to his grandchildren ultimately put him in a dangerous situation, leading to his untimely death. The investigation and subsequent arrests brought some measure of justice for McMullen and his family, but the impact of the crime continues to be felt by those who knew and loved him.
