KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas — Investigators are continuing to seek leads in a October 2019 home invasion in which an elderly woman was bound to a chair and her house set on fire.
The woman, 78-year-old Peggy Wright, remained hospitalized and ultimately succumbed to injuries in April 2020 — prompting investigators to upgrade the charges in the case to capital murder from arson and attempted murder.
"A reward of $15,000 has been pledged for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible," the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office announced today.
At approximately 9:38 a.m., on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call of a residential structure fire in the 4500 block of Farm-to-Market (FM) 148 in between Crandall and Talty.
The 911 caller told police there was still a person inside the residence.
"A Good Samaritan was flagged down by neighbors; he went into the house and found the victim tied to a folding chair," stated the sheriff's office. "With the help of a fireman, the victim was rescued from the residence."
Wright was transported to a local hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.There, she was able to tell investigators she was met at her back door by the still-unknown suspect, who was pointing a pistol at Wright.
"The suspect pushed her way into the house, demanded money, tied the victim to the chair and rummaged through the house," stated the sheriff's office. "Before leaving, the suspect set a fire in the kitchen, leaving the victim tied to the chair."
The suspect was described as a heavy-set white female with reddish or strawberry blonde hair. She was wearing a black hoodie and gold-rimmed glasses.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office at (469) 376-4500 or the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at (877) 847-7522 or online at www.kaufmancountycrimestoppers.org.
