Search continues for suspect
Man wanted in deaths of Gilmer couple may be in country illegally, Upshur DA says

By RANDY ROSS

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Authorities continued their search Monday for a man suspected in the Friday night deaths of a Gilmer couple.

Gilmer Police Chief James Grunden said officials acquired the warrant for 25-year-old Miguel Angel Espinal on Sunday. Investigators identified Espinal as a "person of interest" in the case on Saturday.

Investigators discovered the bodies of Danny Clark, 36, and Sabrina Clark, 35, inside their home at Ervin Hill Apartments, on Texas 300 at Bob-O-Link Road, shortly after 8 p.m.

Grunden said the cause of the deaths appears to have been multiple stab wounds. The deaths are the first homicides in Gilmer since December 2008.

Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd said the arrest warrant had not been filed with the district clerk's office Monday, and the warrant would not be released until after an arrest is made.

Byrd said authorities believe Espinal, 25, is from Honduras and has been in the country illegally, living for several years in Hawkins and Upshur counties.

Byrd said Espinal could face additional charges after the investigation is complete, but he declined to elaborate. Byrd said he did not know whether Espinal has been convicted of any prior crimes.

Byrd would not say whether Espinal had any ties to the Clarks or discuss a possible motive for the deaths. A neighbor of the Clarks said Espinal dated a relative of Sabrina Clark.

Espinal, who has large tattoos on both arms, was last seen driving a green 1993 Isuzu Rodeo with tape on the passenger-side front window, police said.

Espinal is known to work in the Sulphur Springs area.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact the police department at (903) 843-5545.

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