Man receives 20-year term for manslaughter in Texas Killing Fields case

James Dolphs Elmore Jr., 61, received a 20-year prison term after a Galveston County jury found him guilty of manslaughter for supplying the cocaine that caused the death of 16-year-old Laura Miller, whose body was recovered in the notorious Texas Killing Fields in 1986. Elmore was arrested earlier this year and faced an indictment alleging he prepared the drug that was administered by Clyde Hedrick, a longtime friend accused of involvement in multiple killings.

Hedrick, who had previously been convicted of manslaughter in a separate case, died by suicide before a grand jury could consider further charges. The Texas Killing Fields have been the site of more than 30 discovered bodies of girls and young women since the 1970s, prompting ongoing investigations. While Elmore's conviction marks a rare trial related to the area, most of the deaths remain unsolved. The case also highlights the work of Texas EquuSearch, a nonprofit founded by Laura Miller's father to locate missing persons.