GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — A Galveston County judge set $3 million in bonds Thursday for James Elmore, 61, who faces charges in connection with two deaths linked to the “Texas Killing Fields.”
Judge Jeth Jones of the 122nd Judicial District Court set a $1.5 million bond for a manslaughter charge and two $750,000 bonds for evidence tampering, according to court records. The charges involve Elmore’s alleged role in the deaths of Laura Miller and Audrey Cook.
The indictments are part of a renewed effort to investigate the unsolved deaths of roughly 30 women whose bodies were found near Calder Road and Ervin Street in League City, between Houston and Galveston. Between 1984 and 1991, authorities identified four victims: Heidi Fye-Villareal, Audrey Cook, Donna Prudhomme, and Laura Miller.
Galveston County District Attorney Kenneth Cusick said Elmore allegedly acted with Clyde Hedrick, who died last week before a scheduled grand jury presentation. Cusick said the manslaughter charge alleges Elmore prepared a vial of cocaine for Hedrick to administer to Miller, who disappeared in September 1984; her remains were recovered in February 1986.
Tim Miller, Laura Miller’s father and founder of Texas EquuSearch, said he met with Elmore at least 30 times over the past four years and obtained information about the deaths. He approached Cusick in December 2025 for further investigation.
Elmore’s trial is scheduled for Aug. 31, according to local reports.