Fourth man indicted in 2007 murder case
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

Jeremiah Ellison

It's been almost a year since 31- year-old Hidi Gower was found in the Kempner VFW parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds, from which she died shortly thereafter.

And one man charged with capital murder already has stood trial and received a life sentence in prison with no parole.

Chaka Romain Johnson, 32, of Lampasas was sentenced after a weeklong jury trial that began June 9.

Another suspect, Jeremiah John Ellison, 25, of Copperas Cove was indicted last week by the Lampasas County grand jury for capital murder, making him the fourth person to be charged with the crime.

Ellison, who originally was jailed on a $500,000 bond after his arrest in July 2007, was released in October after his bail was lowered to $10,000.

County and District Attorney Larry Allison, who prosecuted the case against Johnson and will lead the case against Ellison, said since Ellison was out of jail on bond they knew he wasn't going anywhere. "And we knew he was going to testify in the other cases.

"We weren't worried about him not showing up for court."

Allison said since the Gower case was getting close to being disposed of, it was time for Ellison to be indicted.

An investigation into the death of Mrs. Gower was conducted by Lampasas County Sheriff's Investigator David Thorpe, Major Crimes Task Force Investigators John Seery and Charlie Boswell, and Texas Ranger Jesse Ramos.

Officers from multiple agencies also assisted.

Mrs. Gower was the victim of a murder-for-hire plot law officials say was instigated by her husband, Donald Dean Gower, 39, of Copperas Cove.

Investigators believe Gower planned to kill his wife so he could collect on a life insurance policy she held.

Gower faces an Aug. 25 jury trial and remains in the Lampasas County Jail on a $1.25 million bond.

Also arrested in connection with the murder of Mrs. Gower was John Robert Martinez, 27, of Copperas Cove. He remains in jail in lieu of a $1 million bond on a charge of capital murder.

Regina Edwards-Sample, 25, of Copperas Cove also was arrested for the crime and originally jailed on a $500,000 bond. She was released after her bond was lowered to $2,500 in September. She was not indicted by the grand jury.

Ms. Edwards-Sample will not be indicted, Allison said, because there was no evidence to connect her with the shootings.

"We passed on indicting her, and we won't refile. It was dismissed by the judge."

Allison believes the cases against Ellison and Martinez will not go to jury trial. "I expect both cases to be settled by pleas of guilty."

Ellison faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Gower is represented by John Galligan of Belton, and Assistant District Attorney John Greenwood will assist Allison in prosecuting the trial next month.