Fierro held on $5 million bond for murders

A family member is being held in the Donley County Jail for the double murder of a Howardwick couple on February 18.

Thirty-year-old Jarvis Fierro was arrested last Friday, February 22, and is charged with capital murder for the shooting deaths of his brother James Edward Fierro, 34, and Candice Racheal Garrett, 33.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn is confident that his department, working with other area and state agencies, has the killer in custody.

“We got him,” Blackburn said. “No doubt.”
Blackburn has not released a motive for what he says was a premeditated homicide.

Law enforcement personnel discovered the couple’s bodies in their Howardwick residence at 113 Lakeview Lane after the sheriff’s office received a call at 10:09 p.m. last Monday night.

Working with other agencies, the sheriff’s office obtained a warrant for capital murder for Jarvis Fierro by Friday morning. Officers from several agencies then stopped the suspect about 12:30 that afternoon on Bell Street in Amarillo, removed him from his vehicle, and placed him under arrest.

“This could not have happened this fast without the help of the Department of Public Safety, the Oldham County Sheriff’s Office, the Carson County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI,” Blackburn said. “We also had the help of the Amarillo Police Department, and Amarillo SWAT.”

DPS officers involved in the investigation included Texas Rangers, Highway Patrol, and CID personnel.

Justice of the Peace Pam Mason arraigned Jarvis Fierro on Friday and set his bond at $5 million.

Blackburn said the four children at home at the time of the murder are under the control of Child Protective Services. The ultimate custody fate of those children, as well as two other kids, will be determined by CPS, the sheriff said.

Blackburn credited CPS, as well as the Associated Ambulance Authority, for assisting with caring for the couple’s children.

Preliminary autopsy results have been received, but as of Tuesday neither Blackburn nor Judge Mason’s office is releasing those preliminary findings.