A Texas woman and her boyfriend have confessed to killing her mother and stepfather and dumping their bodies in a nearby ravine, police say.
Cassandra Lange, 29, and Joby Williams, 30, were arrested on April 8 after police conducted a welfare check on Lange’s stepfather, Stephen Rehbein, who had not shown up for work.
Officers from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office were unable to find Rehbein but “observed evidence indicating possible foul play,” according to the department. Further evidence was later found suggesting a crime had taken place.
Investigators later tracked down one of Rehbein’s cars, which was being driven in the Corpus Christi area. Lange and Williams were found inside the vehicle along with two young children.
Lange was identified as the biological daughter of Cherry Rehbein, the wife of Stephen Rehbein.
In a police interview with a Medina County Chief Deputy and a Texas Ranger, Lange reportedly confessed that she and Williams had killed the Rehbeins and disposed of their bodies in a ravine.
A possible motive for the killings was not immediately clear.
Investigators back in Medina County began searching the Medina Lake area, a task made more difficult by the nighttime conditions.
However, after several hours, deputies located two large black garbage bags concealed in a deep ravine, which an eagle-eyed officer spotted.
With assistance from local firefighters, two bodies were recovered and transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.
Lange and Williams were charged with capital murder of multiple persons for the murders of the Rehbeins. Their bonds have both been set at $1 million each
The two children, aged six and one month, respectively, were placed with Child Protective Services and are being reunited with family members.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies arrived at the residence at around 1 p.m. and the suspects were taken into custody at approximately 7:00 p.m. “The swift coordination and diligent efforts of all agencies involved allowed this case to be rapidly developed and the suspects to be apprehended in a timely manner,” the sheriff’s office added.
The investigation remains ongoing.
