Page 44 - TPA Journal May June 2025

viewing Sanders. Werby testified that Kelly told State Trooper William Moore, who had been
Sanders: “[I]f you want an attorney, you don’t assigned to an FBI Task Force to investigate vio-
want to talk anymore, we’ll stop the conversation lent crimes. Moore testified that FBI Special
right now.” Sanders responded: “No, I’ll answer Agent Ben Walsh called and informed him that
your questions. I just want to talk to an attorney Sanders had been arrested. Moore and Walsh
about answering this one question as to why I drove to a correctional facility in Mississippi to
killed[L.R.]” Toward the end of Kelly’s interview, interview Sanders. Moore had been in communi-
Werby asked Sanders where Suellen’s body was cation with the Gulfport FBI agents and learned
located. Sanders replied that it was off “Interstate that Sanders had been cooperative during his
20 and about 20 miles to the west of Williams, interview earlier that morning and had confessed
Arizona.” Sanders did not recall the exit on to the murders. Moore testified that the purpose of
Interstate 20. their interview with Sanders was to locate
Once the interview in the vehicle concluded, FBI Suellen’s body. Prior to interviewing Sanders,
Special Agent Steve Callender drove Sanders and Moore testified that they advised him of his rights
Werby to the FBI office. While the agents with a form. Although Moore was aware that
processed Sanders, Werby opened a map on the Sanders had waived his rights before the previous
computer that showed Williams, Arizona, and the interview, they wanted to make sure Sanders
surrounding area. This second interview at the understood his rights. Sanders acknowledged that
FBI office was not recorded. Werby testified that he understood his rights and that he waived them.
Sanders “was very interested in trying to help us The form provided that Sanders had a right to stop
find the body.” After Sanders was processed, he the questioning and the right to talk to a lawyer
sat down at Werby’s computer, and Werby asked before any questioning. Sanders signed the waiv-
Sanders if he understood his rights. Sanders er form, with Moore and Walsh as witnesses.
responded affirmatively. Werby testified that Sanders agreed to talk with Moore and Walsh and
Sanders “was very willing” to look at the map and did not indicate any reservations in doing so.
help locate Suellen’s body. Sanders told Werby Moore testified that Sanders was coherent and
that the intersection off the interstate had a pile of cooperative. Unlike the previous two interviews,
asphalt. To help them in locating Suellen’s body, this interview was recorded, and Sanders was
Werby called Special Agent Jamie Newton, who aware of the recording. The interview lasted
worked in Flagstaff, Arizona. Both Werby and about an hour and five minutes, and the “first
Sanders talked to Agent Newton. At one point, three-quarters of the time” involved Sanders
Sanders asked Werby about L.R.’s body. Werby relaying information over the telephone to agents
described the condition of L.R.’s remains, and in Arizona in an attempt to locate Suellen’s body.
Sanders became “very upset and started crying.” Moore testified that they used a computer to view
Sanders said that “she didn’t deserve that.” maps, and Walsh used Google Maps on his cell
Sanders told Werby that L.R. became hysterical phone. Sanders drew a picture of the area around
after he killed her mother. Sanders also told the interstate exit to assist in finding it.
Werby that the gun he used to kill them “was a At around the forty-eight-minute mark of the
piece of junk” and that he had to put a bullet in the recording, the phone call with the Arizona agents
gun’s chamber every time he fired it. was terminated. Moore and Walsh began ques-
Werby testified that they were unable to find the tioning Sanders about the events that occurred
exact exit on the interstate. Werby also testified over Labor Day weekend. Walsh then asked
that Sanders never requested to speak to an attor- Sanders about his employment at a mattress facto-
ney while they were at the FBI office. Sanders ry, and Sanders responded that he wanted to speak
was later transported to a correctional facility. to an attorney. As a result, Walsh changed the
The next witness at the hearing was Louisiana subject of the interview. At that point in Moore’s

40 www.texaspoliceassociation.com • (512) 458-3140 Texas Police Journal