On January 23, 2024, the Angelina County Sheriff's Office conducted a welfare check at a residence near the intersection of Hutch Hopson and Hopsonville Roads, approximately ten miles southeast of Zavalla, Texas. There, deputies discovered the decomposed body of 55-year-old Lawrence Jason Wise in a shed on the property. Preliminary findings from the medical examiner indicated that Wise had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.
During the investigation, authorities noted that Wise's white Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck was missing from the scene. Attention quickly turned to Wise's nephew, 40-year-old Jeremy Wayne Gladden, who had previously reported disputes with his uncle to law enforcement. In December 2023, Gladden made 911 calls expressing conflicts with Wise, even stating that if authorities did not intervene, he would take matters into his own hands.
Detectives learned that Gladden had left the Zavalla area and had relatives in Arkansas. Collaborating with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in Arkansas, they located Wise's stolen truck at a residence near Coal Hill. On January 26, 2024, after a brief foot chase, Gladden was apprehended by an undercover investigator when he attempted to secure a ride to flee the area. He was arrested on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and later charged with murder following statements he made during interrogation.
Following his arrest, Gladden was held in the Johnson County Detention Center in Arkansas, awaiting extradition to Texas. He was returned to Angelina County on a governor's warrant and was indicted for murder by an Angelina County Grand Jury on May 17, 2024. Gladden is scheduled to make his first appearance in Angelina County District Court on Monday.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Wise's death remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence and build their case against Gladden. The community of Zavalla has been deeply affected by this tragic event, as they await further developments in the legal proceedings.
