In July 2022, The Madill Record reported on the arrest of David Latham and Julie Kawazoe. The couple was arrested after David Lee Easley, Jr was found deceased in his home.
Easley’s wife called 911 on July 21, 2023, after she was not able to reach her husband after attempting to call him multiple times. Then, she noted that she arrived at their residence and the lights were on and his gun was sitting on the table. She told said in an interview that he was meticulous about putting his firearms away.
Officers arrived on scene and found Easley’s body in the cellar. The couple was found and arrested in Roanoke, Texas and were extradited to Marshall County.
Latham, a 40-year-old male and Easley’s nephew, pleaded guilty to First-Degree Murder – Deliberate Attempt. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Kawazoe, a 48-year-old female and Latham’s fiancé, pleaded to Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle and Possession of a Stolen Credit Card. The charge for Accessory After the Fact was dismissed. She received 10 years of probation for her conviction.