Second arrest made in slaying of University Park fire captain

Authorities arrested a Quinlan man Sunday in connection with the death of a University Park fire captain whose wife was arrested Saturday in the case.

Michael Garza, 37, was arrested early Sunday and faces a murder charge in the slaying of Capt. Robert Poynter, 47, who was found dead of a gunshot wound late Friday night. Poynter’s wife, Chacey Poynter, 29, was arrested Saturday and faces a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

Both Garza and Chacey Poynter were in the Hunt County Jail on Sunday afternoon, according to online records, which also indicated no bond had been set for either.

Royse City police responded to a call around 10:40 p.m. Friday reporting a woman in the roadway around Farm Road 35 near Hunt County Road 2595, northeast of Dallas.

They found Chacey Poynter, who said her husband was shot while he was in a car. Officers later found the body of Robert Poynter.

Officers got “suspicious and conflicting” information from Chacey Poynter, according to a press release from the Royse City Police Department. Investigators also concluded a third person was involved.

Robert Poynter began working for University Park in 1997. He became a lieutenant in 2002 and was promoted to captain in 2012.

“The members of the University Park Fire Department were deeply saddened to hear of his passing,” a fire department statement says. “Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time.”

A neighbor of the Poynters told FOX4 that she spoke with the family Friday about their vacation to Mexico.

“I’m sad. I’m beside myself. I can’t believe it because they were both a nice couple as far as we could see,” Judy Dixon told the station. “Everything that we’ve seen, they were absolutely fabulous.”

The Texas Department of Public Safety, Hunt County Sheriff’s Office and the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.

This story was originally published September 11, 2016 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Second arrest made in slaying of University Park fire captain."