Ben Taub Hospital

Cary Winscott 1970-2008

Hermann Park or Parking?

City and Harris County hospital officials play let's make a deal

Harris County Mental-Health Court Still A Ways Off

After hearing about a recently-approved mental health court for felony offenders, a Katy woman -- who wished to remain anonymous -- was thrilled because she thought it would work perfectly for her 17-year-old son. He'd been in and out of jail since last summer, after originally being arrested for as ... More >>

Letters

From the February 24, 2000 issue

No Parking

The lots around the nightspots were loaded. So was the passenger's pistol.

Benefit for DJ Comp 1

The Nightfly learns a lesson in solidarity

Letters

Rockin' On, A Stark Affair, Wrong War?

Hot Shots

There's a bull market on the meningitis vaccine. Are some doctors cashing in?

Metal Help

The late William "Tray" Folliard, the Hard Rock, and stories from 'round town

Bayou Body Count: Two Cars, Lots Of Bullets

Courtesy HPDSWAT officers with the Houston Police Department raided a house early Monday morning, looking for Francisco Odilon Lopez, a suspect in a shooting that left one man dead and another injured. Lopez, however, was not there and police are still looking for him. According to the police depart ... More >>

Bayou Body Count: World's Vaguest Murder

courtesy of HPDThe two suspected knife men​Houston police are looking for a pair of men suspected of stabbing 22-year-old Vicente Ramirez to death early Saturday morning. Police say Ramirez and some friends were at a bar at around 4:30 a.m. at 5901 Hillcroft when they got into a fight with a bunc ... More >>

Bayou Body Count: Weekend Leftovers, Including River Oaks

​During the past few days, Houston-area police and sheriff's deputies have dealt with an unusually high number of murder-suicides. Sunday nearly capped off the week with another. This one, however, was thankfully less successful and had the added element of attempted patricide. Eugene Hawk, 59, ... More >>

Bayou Body Count: Never Trust A Man With A Hatchet

​Throughout history, the term "hatchet man" has meant different things. In the 1880s, it was slang for a Chinese hired assassin. In the mid-1900s, it was used to describe a journalist who assassinated the character of a public figure.Today in Houston, it means something much simpler: someone who a ... More >>

Bayou Body Count: A Stench At The Airport

​George Bush Intercontinental Airport may not be on the same level as mythic Mafioso burial grounds such as JFK in New York or the airport in Newark, N.J., but it still finds a stiff every once in a while.Last week, airport police got a call about a terrible stench coming from the parking lot of t ... More >>

Bayou Body Count: Thanksgiving Murders On The Menu

​While most folks over the long weekend were celebrating the season of thanks and giving, a few guys out there had their hearts filled with the spirit of taking and murder.On Friday night, a pair of armed men tried to rob 34-year-old Jonathan Young in Young's home at 6719 Briargate. At some point, ... More >>

Marcel Simpson, 19: Bayou Body Count No. 7

​If you try to take my shit, I can shoot your ass.This is the compact all Texans make with each other, whether they want to or not. It is both an unwritten cultural law and a general principle that can be upheld in a court of law.The notion may soon be put to the test, however, in the wake of an a ... More >>

Unidentified Male, 43, Bayou Body Count No. 25

​It's said that revenge is a dish best served cold.Well, we're not sure about the revenge part, but someone served up a body Tuesday night outside of Danny's Food Mart on Collingsworth in northeast Houston. This was the second murder outside of a convenience store in a week.Police got a call about ... More >>

Ernesto Alonzo, 38, Bayou Body Count No. 70

​Police don't who did it or why, but a man last seen running down the street with a pack of men chasing him was killed over the weekend in south Houston.Witnesses tell police that Ernesto Alonzo, 38, was at a bar near the 13400 block of Monarch Road early Saturday morning. When he left, police say ... More >>

Unidentified Man, Bayou Body Count No. 75

​It's another verse to the same ol' song: A man was shot to death in Houston and no one seems to know who done it.At about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, someone near MacGregor Park flagged down a patrol officer and said that a man has been killed at a nearby apartment complex. When the officer drove up to ... More >>

Robert Butler, Sr., 57, Bayou Body Count No. 110

Photo courtesy HPDPolice are looking for Damian Mann​An arrest has been made in the shooting death of Robert Butler, who was ambushed in northeast Houston as he was parking a tractor-trailer.The suspect, Diamond Markee Godfrey, 18), is charged with capital murder in the 338th State District Court. ... More >>

Unidentified Man, 32, Bayou Body Count No. 116

Death on a Montrose afternoon​A woman who was being attacked in Montrose by her ex-husband shot and killed him, police say.The incident happened in the 3400 block of Yupon about 4:30 p.m. Sunday."The female victim was stabbed multiple times by her ex-husband," HPD says. "The woman managed to retr ... More >>

Unidentified Male, 26, Bayou Body Count No. 123

Deadly accident on a Friday night near the Richmond Strip​A fatal auto/pedestrian accident Friday night near the Richmond Strip has resulted in intoxication assault charges against the driver, Houston police say.Cops say was driving a silver Lexus ES350 in the 6100 block of Fairdale near Dave & ... More >>

Little Joe Washington Awake, Talking Following Second Surgery

Mark Britain​ After undergoing a second surgery Tuesday to clear an obstructed bowel, Little Joe Washington is now awake and reasonably alert, his friend Reg Burns told Rocks Off this afternoon. Burns said he talked to one of the nurses attending the 71-year-old in the surgical intensive care unit ... More >>

Little Joe Washington Released From Hospital Into Rehab Facility

​Rocks Off just received a brief but fortuitous update on the condition of diminutive bluesman Little Joe Washington from his friend Reg Burns. As expected, Washington has been released from Ben Taub Hospital and is now in Quentin Mease Community Hospital, a rehabilitation facility. Washington ... More >>

Juan Tejeda & Jorge Magdeleno: After Living Quietly For 16 Years, Arrested On Murder Charges

Sixteen years later, caught​Another week, another cold-case arrest in Houston.This time it was two men who had been on the run since participating in a gang murder back in 1994, officials say.Jorge Carlos Tejeda, 33 and Jorge Tejeda Magdeleno, 35, were quietly arrested July 7, Tejeda at the tire s ... More >>

Avianca Cortez, 13, Detrihanna Davis, 13 and RaShaunda Raleigh, 17, Bayou Body Counts No. 173-175

Three teens' lives wiped out​Intoxication manslaughter charges have been filed against a man who prosectors say was drunk when he ran a red light and broadsided an SUV, killing three passengers.Sajan Timalshina, 25, was driving a Toyota Camry on the feeder road at Beltway 8 and the Eastex Freeway ... More >>

Mark A. Williams, 28, Bayou Body Count No. 177

Shot in a Cadillac SUV​A California man was killed and his female companion critically injured after being shot multiple times as they sat in a Cadillac Escalade at a west side apartment complex.Mark A. Williams, 28, of Lynwood, California, was sitting in the silver SUV with Danielle M. Coats, 23, ... More >>

Oscar Salvador Fierro, 23, Bayou Body Count No. 178

A fight leads to a fatal shooting​A fight that began outside a near-downtown club led to a fatal shooting early this morning, police say.Oscar Salvador Fierro, 23m was killed in the 2800 block of Smith after an incident that began as he was leaving Club Plush about 2 a.m., police say.Fierro suffer ... More >>

Lisa Williams, 41, Bayou Body Count No. 195

Murder-suicide near the South Sam Houston Tollway​A man got into an argument with his ex-wife, shot her several times in the back and then apparently took his own life, police said.Lisa Williams, 41, was at her home in the 16100 block of Bantam Ridge Court on the southwest side of town when she an ... More >>

Unidentified Male, Bayou Body Count No. 206

​Murder charges have been brought against Fredy Ramon Lagos in the stabbing death of an unidentified man Saturday night. Police say an argument between the two men that took place at an apartment complex in the 6300 block of West Bellfort around 11:00 PM escalated into a fist fight, then Lago ... More >>

Unidentified Male, 42, Bayou Body Count No. 249

Stabbed to death near the 527 overpass in Montrose​A man was stabbed to death Saturday night in Montrose after an argument, police say.The 42-year-old victim, whose identity is still being verified, had been arguing "with several unknown males" in the 200 block of West Alabama about 9 p.m. Saturda ... More >>

Unidentified Male, Bayou Body Count No. 276

Shot in the chest​Houston Police are investigating a fatal shooting by three unknown suspects who kicked in the door of a residence Sunday morning. The unknown victim, a man in his 30's, was shot in the chest as the suspect fled the scene. He was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where he wa ... More >>

Unidentified Female, 24, Bayou Body Count No. 280

Shot in the back​A woman was shot in the back and killed Friday night on the southeast side, police say. Houston police say they got a shooting call and when they arrived in the 6200 block of West Airport they found an injured 24-year-old woman. She was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and pronounc ... More >>

Patrick Borrego, 40, Bayou Body Count No. 7

Dead in a bar parking lot​A man whose body was found at 5 a.m. in an eastside bar parking lot died later at the hospital, Houston police say. Patrick Borrego, 40, of Pasadena, "suffered sharp force wounds" and died at Ben Taub Hospital, HPD says. Police received a call saying a body had been ... More >>

Quintana Patterson, 18, Bayou Body Count No. 25

A 4 a.m. shooting outside a bar​An 18-year-old girl was in the parking lot of a northside bar at 4 a.m. Saturday and ended up dead from a gunshot. Quintana Patterson was shot in the head "when an unknown black male began shooting" in the parking lot of the Takeover Club in the 2800 block of B ... More >>

Courtney Bell, 28, Bayou Body Count No. 51

Argument leads to stabbing death.​A man was stabbed to death in the driveway of his southeast side home Sunday night, Houston police say. Courtney Bell, 28, got in an argument with two men about 10:30 last night and ended up stabbed several times. He was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and pronoun ... More >>

Unidentified Hispanic Female, Bayou Body Count No. 52

Police hope someone will recognize this.​Police are looking for the public's help in identifying a woman stabbed to death on the southeast side Sunday night. The woman was found with multiple stab wounds in the Broadway Park Apartments in the 2500 block of Broadway about 11:45 p.m.; she was t ... More >>

Laura Anna Guillen, 31, Bayou Body Count No. 54

Checking if a gun is loaded at 2 a.m.​In something out of Pulp Fiction, a woman was killed when a passenger in the backseat of her car accidentally shot her, police say. Laura Anna Guillen, 31, was sitting in the driver's seat of a car in the 4600 block of Collingsworth near the Fifth Ward ... More >>

Victor Ramirez, 43, Bayou Body Count No. 60

HPDPedro Rodriguez: Wanted for murder.​A northwest side man shot his three neighbors in an argument and killed one of them on May 2, Houston police said. He was charged with murder over the weekend and is on the run. Victor Ramirez, 43, was shot and killed in front of his home in the 7500 blo ... More >>

Health Department Roundup

Big Perm, we mean Big Worm, isn't sweating ice cream truck inspections​We don't really remember caring about the heat during childhood. And now that we're old enough to be appropriately miserable, it may be too late to feel all right about wading through a group of kids to take advantage of on ... More >>

Syed Hussain, 28, Bayou Body Count No. 87

Killed in a daylight robbery attempt.​A gas-station employee who was shot during an afternoon robbery attempt Friday died a day later at Ben Taub Hospital, Houston police say. Syed Hussain, 28, worked in a Chevron station in the 5400 block of the East Freeway. About 4:40 p.m. Friday, he was e ... More >>

Torrence Demond Haywood, 18, Bayou Body Count No. 89

Shot to death during an argument.​An 18-year-old man was shot to death during an argument on the south side Monday, Houston police say. Torrence Demond Haywood, 18, was "involved in a verbal dispute" with another man about 11 a.m. in the 5100 block of Mallow, HPD says. The other man pulled o ... More >>

Rashad Minix, 20, Bayou Body Count No. 95

Shot near TSU​An alleged drive-by shooting near the Texas Southern University campus early Sunday morning left one person dead. Rashad Minix, 20, was killed in the incident in the 3400 block of Rosedale about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Houston police say. Another man injured in the shooting was expect ... More >>

Unidentified Woman Shot, Bayou Body Count No. 102

Shot in the head and left for dead.​Police are trying to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a woman and her boyfriend at a house located at 1537 Clarke Springs Wednesday night around 10 p.m. Police said an argument between a man and a woman at the residence resulted in gu ... More >>

Jesus Enrique Hoffman, 38, Bayou Body Count No. 163

Shot to death in a vacant lot.​A man was shot to death during an argument on the north side Sunday night, police say. Jesus Enrique Hoffman, 38, "had an argument with two unknown Hispanic males" in a vacant lot in the 8600 block of East Hardy about 8:40 p.m. last night, HPD says. "The argume ... More >>

Marcos Juarez, 18, Bayou Body Count No. 178

A teenager dies too soon​A second teenager was gunned down over the weekend, Houston police say. Marcos Juarez, 18, was shot Sunday afternoon on the southwest side in a drive-by shooting, HPD said. Juarez was standing outside when a man pulled p in a pick-up truck and shot him about 2:30 p.m ... More >>

Patrone Brooks, 37, Bayou Body Count No. 190

Bullet casings that may be relevant.​Police are investigating a Sunnyside death that raises some questions. Patrone Brooks, 37, was taken to Ben Taub Hospital about 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, where he died of blunt force trauma. Police were called, and an investigation led them to the 4200 bloc ... More >>

Raymond Lee Mazon: Shoots Three Outside A Midtown Club

Photo by HPDRaymond Mazon: Shooting pedestrians in Midtown​Houston police arrested Raymond Lee Mazon, 26 after they say he opened fire on three people after getting kicked out of a Midtown club early Sunday morning. Police say Mazon was ordered to leave Link Lounge at 2901 Fannin and walked a ... More >>

Reyna Rogers, 50, Gunned Down By Her Son, Bayou Body Count No. 4

Photo by HPDJames Rogers shot Mom, pets​A 26-year-old man has been arrested for killing his mother, Houston police say. Reyna Rogers, 50, was shot several times in her westside townhome in the 3000 block of Las Palmas about 9 p.m. last night, HPD says. Her son, James Allen Rogers, was arrest ... More >>