Devins are laid to rest

Funeral services for former Clarendon residents Noel and Mac Devin were held in Bryan and Gainesville this week after their untimely deaths April 7.

Bryan Police last Wednesday afternoon confirmed that two bodies recovered from an arson in that city are indeed those of the daughter and father.

Dennis Wayne Brown III was served April 9 with arrest warrants for Burglary of a Habitation and Arson in the First Degree for the fire at Noel Devin’s home in Bryan. Brown was already being held on a charge of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

In a prepared statement, Bryan Police Chief Eric Buske said the criminal investigation of the fire and deaths is ongoing.

“The Bryan Police Department is working closely with the Bryan Fire Department, the Bryan Fire Marshals, and the State Fire Marshal’s office,” the statement said. “In addition we are in consultation with District Attorney Jarvis Parsons and his staff.”

A medical examiner positively identified Noel Devin, age 32, and Thomas Mac Devin, age 63.

“We believe this to be an isolated incident and at this time, we are not actively seeking any additional suspects in this investigation,” the statement said.

Arson is a 1st degree felony that carries a punishment of 5 to 99 years in prison. Burglary of Habitation is a 2nd degree felony that carries a punishment of 2 to 20 years in prison.

According to information from the Bryan Police Department, 911 in that city received calls of an explosion and fire at Noel Devin’s home about 4:30 Monday morning, April 7, and fire and police personnel were dispatched to the scene. Noel was determined to be the single occupant of the home; and when she could not be contacted by phone, dispatch contacted Devin’s mother, Karla.

At the scene, Mrs. Devin told officers that her husband, Thomas Mac Devin, had left their home in College Station on the day before at about 5:30 p.m. to bring Noel’s dog back to her. Mrs. Devin said she had fallen asleep and did not realize that her husband had not returned home until the dispatcher notified her of the fire. She also had not heard from Noel since earlier the day before.

Police said Dr. Devin’s pickup was parked in from of Noel’s home, and the dog was still inside. Mrs. Devin noted that Noel’s Ford Edge was missing.

Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters located the remains of two humans – one in the front living room and the other in the right rear bedroom. Both bodies were unidentifiable.

Investigators report they located incendiary trailers smelling of gasoline in the house. They also noticed a strong odor of bleach when they opened Dr. Devin’s pickup and noticed a white substance that appeared to be dried bleach in the driver’s compartment.

Noel Devin’s vehicle was later located at the El Camino Motel where a clerk said it had been driven there by white male who was still in the room where the vehicle was parked.

Police knocked on the door of the room, Dennis Wayne Brown III answered and police noticed a set of Ford keys on the bed. Brown clamed a black man named “Tear Drop” had left the car with him. The keys unlocked Devin’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a gasoline jug with gasoline and a bottle of bleach.

Officers also recovered several personal items positively identified as belonging to Noel Devin during a search of the motel room. The search also found more bleach and cigarette lighters.