Zavalla man accused of murder extradited to Texas from Arkansas

ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) – A Zavalla man accused of a January murder has been returned to Angelina County to face his charges, after fleeing to Arkansas.

On Jan. 23, officers found the body of Zavalla man, Lawrence Jason Wise, 55, in a shed on his own property, according to a statement from Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman. The investigation led them to believe that Jeremy Wayne Gladden, 41, also of Zavalla, stole Wise’s truck, which was later spotted in Johnson County, Arkansas.

On Jan. 26, Arkansas deputies arrested Gladden near Clarksville after a chase, Selman said. Gladden has been detained in Arkansas since then, and Selman said he fought extradition to Texas.

Murder charges were filed by sheriff’s deputies and an indictment was returned by an Angelina County grand jury on May 17.

Gladden was returned to Texas on a warrant from the governor and booked into the Angelina County Jail on October 5. He is due to make his first court appearance on Monday.

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