Arrest Made in Case of Murdered Young County Woman

Police in Graham have arrested a man believed to have dug the grave where the remains of missing Young County woman Leah Martin were discovered earlier this month.

Martin’s remains were found on the property of an abandoned home about 10 miles outside of Graham on August 5^th.  According to information from law enforcement and The Graham Leader, Wednesday morning Graham Police and the Texas Rangers served a search warrant on a residence in the 800 block of Oak Street.  42 year-old Billy Ray Minkley Jr. was arrested and charged with tampering/fabricating evidence with the intent to impair a human corpse.

As reported by The Graham Leader:

Investigators interviewed subjects who admitted the suspect brought a backhoe type piece of equipment onto the property on May 30, 2015 and operated it in the area where the clandestine grave was located…investigators were able to confirm equipment of that description had been rented from a local business.

Minkley is held in the Young County Correction Center under a $250,000 bond.  Also in custody is 42 year-old Ross Hellams.  Hellams was taking care of the property where Martin’s remains were found.  He was arrested on August 10^th, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a prohibited weapon.  Hellams is held under $200,000 bond in the Young County Correction Center.

Source: The Graham Leader