Dog’s microchip leads to Texas man’s murder conviction

Nov 14, 2024

WACO, Texas — A lost dog at a crime scene in McLennan County, Texas, ultimately led to the capture of a man accused of shooting and killing his cousin.

“The keys to this case were a heroic and loyal dog named Titan and extraordinary cooperation between law enforcement agencies in multiple jurisdictions and states,” a McLennan County assistant district attorney said in a news release.

The incident happened on April 5, 2023, in Robinson–a city south of Waco–when police responded to reports of a brush fire. When officers got to the fire, they found a dead body burned beyond recognition.

Also at the scene was a white dog that was barking frantically at police. The dog refused to leave the area but also evaded capture.

The next day, a resident found the dog sitting on the spot where the burnt body had been, and they notified Robinson Animal Control, which took the dog in.

The dog’s microchip revealed its name was Titan, and it belonged to Mandy Rose Reynolds, who lived in San Marcos.

Robinson police, suspecting that the dead body was Reynolds, contacted the San Marcos Police Department, which sent officers to Reynolds’ home.

“Upon making entry into Reynolds’ apartment, police found Reynolds’ home to be completely empty, with all of her possessions removed,” the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release. “Her vehicle, a black Honda Accord, was also missing.”

Police ran the car through a license plate database and found that the car was last seen somewhere in Wichita, Kansas.

On April 8, 2023, Wichita Police Department officers spotted Reynolds’ car and tried to pull it over, but a high-speed chase ensued, lasting nearly 30 minutes.

The chase ended when the stolen car crashed into another car, and the driver fled into a nearby grocery store, hiding on a shelf behind some canned goods.

The driver was quickly found and identified as Derek Daigneault, 29, a cousin of Reynolds. In the stolen car, Wichita police found a handgun, which matched a shell casing found at the crime scene.

Investigators also got security footage from a Walmart that showed Daigneault purchasing a large plastic storage container identical to the one that Reynolds’ body was burned in on April 4, 2023. He also purchased a shovel and a gas can.

“Walmart video also showed Daigneault leaving the store in Reynolds’ car, and showed Reynolds’ dog, Titan, sticking his head out the car’s window,” the news release said.

An autopsy on Reynolds’ body confirmed her identity and determined that she died from a gunshot wound to the head. The Texas Department of Public Safety later confirmed that the bullet and shell casing were fired by the gun found in Daigneault’s possession.

Daigneault was sentenced to life in prison last week for Reynolds’ murder.