$1 million bond for suspect in McNamara capital murder

A judge has set a bond of $1 million on a suspect charged with capital murder in the death of insurance company owner Mickey McNamara in Orange.

Joseph Edward Roberts Jr., 21, was arraigned Sunday in the Orange County Jail and bond was set at that time, according to information provided to KFDM News by a jail supervisor and Capt. Sparky Robinson with the Orange Police Department.

Police say Roberts has confessed to beating and killing McNamara, 76, with a bat, and using a bat to injure his niece, Joyce Cross, during a robbery Wednesday, April 21, at McNamara Insurance, 1212 Green Avenue in Orange.

Cross suffered a concussion, broken arm and other injuries and is recovering at a hospital.

McNamara was buried Sunday.

"We still have work to do in the attack on Mr. McNamara and Joyce Cross," Capt. Robinson told KFDM News Monday morning. "We hope to have everything to the District Attorney, short of the lab work, by the end of the week. Roberts was very cooperative. We recovered evidence pertaining to him. We've met with Joyce Cross several times in the hospital and plan to meet with her again when she's released."

Capt. Robinson said police have a good timeline to explain where Roberts was before and after the attack.

If you have information about the case, call the Orange Police Department or EasTex Crime Stoppers at 724-TIPS.

Friday - ORANGE - From Orange Police Department -

On Friday, April 23, 2010 approximately 3:00 p.m. an arrest warrant was served on Joseph Edward Roberts Jr. for the murder of Michael "Mickey" McNamara Jr. that occurred at 1212 Green Avenue on Wednesday April 21, 2010. (McNamara Insurance) This arrest culminated from what has been a non-stop investigation on the part of officers and investigators from the Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office, Orange County District Attorney's Office, Vidor Police Department, West Orange Police Department, and the F.B.I.

The citizens of the greater Orange area, the West Orange Cove Consolidated Independent School District, and especially Mickey McNamara's fellow businessmen and women contributed greatly toward the investigative effort. Every business person that we contacted and many contacted us before we could even get to them, provided security camera video recorded at times and places relevant to our investigation as well as other information that allowed us to develop the evidence needed to obtain the arrest warrant for Joseph Edward Roberts Jr.

The Orange police department wants to thank those officers and citizens who assisted us in this investigation. While no additional arrests are imminent the investigation will continue for some time in order to discover all of the facts relating to this event. The charge today only relates only to the death of Mickey McNamara. There was another victim in this incident and upon the completion of our investigation the case, in its entirety, will be submitted to the District Attorney for Orange County.

Because the investigation is continuing we will not be releasing any additional investigative information beyond the details in the accompanying affidavit of probable cause for arrest.

Sam Kittrell

Chief of Police

Person arrested for the murder of Michael "Mickey" McNamara Jr.:

Name: Joseph Edward Roberts Jr.

DOB/Age: October 9, 1988 21 years

Race/Gender: Black Male

Address: 111 Pine #606

Orange, Texas

Affidavit of PC -

AFFIDAVIT OF PROBABLE CAUSE

STATE OF TEXAS:

COUNTY OF ORANGE:

Before me, the undersigned authority in and for said county and state personally appeared Detective Sergeant Robert Estrello. After being duly sworn deposes and says: My name is Robert Estrello I have been a peace officer for the State of Texas for nine years.

I am employed with the City of Orange Police Department, Orange County, Texas as a Detective Sergeant . I do solemnly swear and believe that Joseph Edward Roberts Jr., herein after called defendant, on or about the 21st day of April, 2010 in the County and City of Orange, did then and there commit the offense of Capital Murder.

Affiant's belief is based on the following facts:

Approximately 1:36 P.M on April 21, 2010 officers from the Orange police department were dispatched to the McNamara Insurance Agency located at 1212 Green Avenue in reference to a possible assault. Upon arriving on the scene at 1:40 P.M., Officers J. C. Arnold and M.J. Reeves entered the business and located a female, obviously injured, in the front entrance area. They also discovered a male, Michael Lee "Mickey" McNamara Jr. lying on the floor in an adjacent room.

Officer Arnold immediately called for an ambulance and other medical support. He also notified other responding officers that a severe assault had apparently taken place in that office. The female on the floor, who was identified as Joyce Kirkland Cross, was bleeding and in obvious distress. She was able to provide information to Officer Arnold stating that she had been the victim of an aggravated robbery and an assault. She also was able to provide a description of the person who robbed and assaulted her. Michael "Mickey" McNamara was completely unconscious on the floor in the adjacent office. He was not able to respond in any way. Joyce Cross was transported to St. Elizabeth hospital in Beaumont by Acadian Ambulance and Michael "Mickey" McNamara was taken by medical helicopter to that same facility. Mrs. Cross sustained serious injuries that resulted in emergency surgery shortly after her arrival at the hospital to address her head injuries and an additional surgery the following day relating to other injuries she received in the assault. A short time after Mr. McNamara arrived at the hospital Affiant was advised that Mr. McNamara had died as a result of the injuries in the robbery/assault. On Thursday April 22, 2010 Dr. Tommy Brown conducted an autopsy on the body of Mr. McNamara. Dr. Brown indicated at that time that Mr. McNamara died as a direct result of the blow to the head from a blunt instrument.

Affiant also responded to the scene of the robbery/assault and participated in the initial investigation. Affiant personally talked to Officers Arnold and Reeves and has read the reports they created in reference to this incident. Affiant has been involved in the investigation since its inception and has routinely conversed with and/or read reports created by other officers participating in the investigation.

Affiant recalled an encounter with the defendant at earlier date where the defendant had a baseball bat that appeared very similar to the one recovered near the scene of the robbery/assault. The police department also received independent information from a citizen who also recalled similar information regarding the bat being associated with defendant. On Friday April 23, 2010 Affiant made contact with the above named defendant. The defendant voluntarily came to the police station where he was interviewed by Affiant and Det. Sgt. Paul Arceneaux.

During the interview the defendant stated that on Wednesday April 21, 2010 he went to Mickey McNamara's Insurance office located 1212 Green Avenue. Once inside of the business he made contact with Mrs. Cross who was alone inside of the business. The defendant stated that he demanded money from Cross and received money.

The defendant stated that he struck Mrs. Cross with a bat in her arm area and head. A short time later Michael "Mickey" McNamara arrived at this business. The defendant stated that as he was exiting the business he observed Mr. McNamara driving up behind the car. He had a short conversation with Mr. McNamara and then followed him back into the building. Once inside the building the defendant stated that he struck Mr. McNamara in the head with the baseball bat. The defendant stated that he then fled the area on foot, taking the money that he obtained in the robbery.

In view of these facts I respectfully request that a warrant of arrest be issued for Joseph Edward Roberts Jr., charging him with the offense of Capital Murder. I affirm that the above statement, consisting of 2 pages, is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.

_ -s- Robert Estrello________

Affiant - Det. Sgt. Robert Estrello

Sworn and subscribed to me by R. Estrello on the 23rd day of April, 2010, in my official

capacity as a Peace Officer of the State of Texas.

______-s- Sarah A. Jefferson-Simon________

Sarah A. Jefferson-Simon, Detective Sergeant

Orange Police Department