Dallas County to Hold Event to Clear Some People’s Criminal Records

If you’ve got a criminal record from Dallas County that you need cleared, now’s the time. The county’s district attorney’s office, public defender’s office and district clerk’s office are holding the county’s annual Expunction Expo, during which attorneys will be helping eligible people have their records expunged, county officials announced…

Wesley Mathews Gets Life Sentence in Daughter Sherin’s Death

Late Wednesday afternoon, a Dallas County jury sentenced Wesley Mathews to life in prison for his involvement in the death of his 3-year-old adopted daughter, Sherin Mathews. A grand jury indicted Mathews on capital murder charges in 2018, but Mathews pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, injury of a child…

When Does It End? Probation System Traps Some for Decades

Nathan Hawkins lives in an apartment in a nice neighborhood in the the Mid-Cities — exactly where, he doesn’t like to say. During the week, he works 12-hour shifts at a job hanging electrical signs on high-rise buildings. When he’s not working, he runs a custom woodworking business. On weekends,…

Alleged Serial Murderer Trolled Killing Ground for Prostitutes, Police Say

Kendrell Lavar Lyles frequently looked for prostitutes near the area where police believe he shot and killed Muhlaysia Booker on May 18, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The affidavit, released Thursday afternoon, details the investigation that led Dallas police to Lyles. Police believe that he committed two additional murders…

A Juror’s View Inside the Brenda Delgado Capital Murder Trial

Editor’s note: Casey Miller served as a member of the jury that last week found Brenda Delgado guilty of capital murder in the contract killing of Dallas dentist Kendra Hatcher. Delgado will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. Miller offered the Observer this essay about his experiences…

Lowlights From Plain View Project’s DPD Exposé

Early last week, the Plain View Project, a database put together by a group of Philadelphia lawyers, went live, publishing Facebook posts that the group believed “could undermine public trust and confidence in police” from more than 3,500 police officers. Among the posts are dozens from Dallas police officers that, to…

Second Trans Woman Killed in Dallas in Less Than a Month

A woman whose body was found Saturday evening at White Rock Lake is the second black transgender woman to be killed in Dallas in less than a month, police said. Officers found Chynal Lindsey, 26, at 5:32 p.m. Saturday at 4100 W. Lawther Drive, Dallas Police Chief U. Renee Hall said…