Zavalla man accused of murder extradited back to Texas from Arkansas

ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) – A Zavalla man charged in a January murder has been returned to Angelina County to face his charges after fleeing to Arkansas.

On Jan. 23, officers found the body of a Zavalla man, Lawrence Jason Wise, 55, in a shed on his own property, according to a release from Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman. The investigation led to the belief that Jeremy Wayne Gladden, 41, also of Zavalla, stole Wise's truck, which was then seen in Johnson County, Arkansas.

On Jan. 26, Arkansas officers arrested Gladden near Clarksville after a chase, Selman said. Gladden has been held in Arkansas since then and Selman said he has fought extradition to Texas.

Sheriff's deputies filed murder charges, and on May 17, the Angelina County grand jury returned an indictment.

Gladden was returned to Texas by order of the governor and booked into the Angelina County Jail on October 5. He is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Monday.

Related:

• Missing truck carrying dead Zavalla man leads to arrest in Arkansas
• Angelina County officials are investigating after body found near Zavalla

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