FORT WORTH -- A 20-year-old state jail inmate faces capital murder charges in connection with the death of his girlfriend and their unborn baby.
Johnny Calvin Scott is accused of cutting the neck of his girlfriend, Vanessa Murrell, as the two argued on Aug. 19 in a vacant lot in the 3200 block of Thannisch Avenue near S. Collard Street in east Fort Worth.Murrell, who was approximately 14 weeks pregnant, and her unborn son died from blood loss due to the knife wound, said Sgt. Cheryl Johnson, supervisor of the homicide unit.A passerby driving north on Collard Street spotted what she believed to be a woman lying in the lot, drove home and alerted her mother. Both women then returned to the lot, where they found Murrell and called 911, according to a police report.Murrell was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:48 a.m.Police obtained a capital murder warrant for Scott on Wednesday with bond set at $500,000, Johnson said.Scott is currently incarcerated at the Hutchins State Jail. He had been sentenced to 180 days in a state jail on Sept. 7 after his deferred adjudication probation was revoked in a drug case.According to court records, Scott had been given two years deferred adjudication probation for possession of less than 28 grams of Alprazolam, more commonly known as Xanax, with intent to deliver.Prosecutors filed to revoke Scott's probation on allegations that he assaulted another man with a bat, repeatedly failed to report to his probation officer, failed to pay ordered fees, and used drugs and alcohol.Court records show Scott also has previous convictions for assault with bodily injury of a family member, resisting arrest and possession of marijuana.Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655Twitter: @deannaboydHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
