Bodies found in Llano River; police investigating as double homicide
KINGSLAND, Texas - The Llano County Sheriff's Office and Texas Rangers have opened a homicide investigation after two bodies were found floating in the Llano River this weekend.
LCSO says it received a 911 call at 10:11 a.m. on June 10 about two people lying face down in the water at The Slab in Kingsland.
Deputies and Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens responded to the scene. The two people, later identified as Mark Baldwin and Kellie Leeann McCormick of Kingsland, were pronounced dead.
A map image showing where The Slab, a popular swimming area on the Llano River, is located. Two bodies were found lying face down in the water there.
Family members of the victims, like Pamela McCormick, searched for answers.
"It’s just complete shock devastation, like I said, I can’t imagine anyone ever wanting to hurt them" said McCormick.
A Llano County road crew was brought to the crime scene to help clear away heavy brush. The cleanup provided better access for investigators who were searching the area for a murder weapon and additional clues.
Several people came to the popular swimming hole, and swam downstream from the crime scene. Investigators are asking swimmers out there to be on the lookout for a machete, knife or shovel discarded along the shoreline or in the water.
Debbie Watson, Mark Baldwin’s sister, said she is hopeful they will eventually learn a motive for the attack, but as of right now, their family remains dumbfounded.
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"More than likely from what they told us, he was down there on the slab with his metal detector looking for treasures, and she was hunting for rocks. That’s what they did. I could see if anyone had anything malicious in mind he would have protected her to the death I know that he loved her that much," said Watson.
Kellie McCormick lived in Liberty Hill for several years before moving to Kingsland. Baldwin is from Austin and moved to Kingsland to care for his mother. The two neighbors have been a couple for about 10 years.
Baldwin and McCormick's deaths are being investigated as homicides.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call the Llano County Sheriff's Office at 325-247-5767 or the Hill Country Crime Stoppers at 1-866-756-TIPS (8477).