On October 28, 2023, the Nacogdoches Police Department responded to a welfare check at a residence on South Stone Street in Nacogdoches, Texas. Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of 73-year-old Laura Sanford and her 48-year-old daughter, Laquice Sanford, both deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
The subsequent investigation involved multiple divisions of the Nacogdoches Police Department, including Patrol, Criminal Investigation, and Technical Services.
Through evidence collection and interviews, authorities identified a suspect: 41-year-old Ronnie Jernigan Jr., the boyfriend of Laquice Sanford. A Nacogdoches County Grand Jury reviewed the evidence and, on April 3, 2024, indicted Jernigan for capital murder. He is currently incarcerated in the Nacogdoches County Law Enforcement Center.
Laura Sanford was born on December 11, 1949, and had a career as a teacher in San Francisco, California. She was married to the late Kenneth Ray Sanford and was preceded in death by her daughter, Laquice Kaye Sanford. She is survived by her two sons, Kenneth and Kelvin, along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held on November 11, 2023, at the Garrison Church of Christ in Garrison, Texas.
The Nacogdoches Police Department has requested that the community keep the family and friends of the victims in their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
