A major development in a bizarre case.
Southaven police have identified the human remains that were found near a home in January.
They say Lawrence Houston Sr. was killed and then buried in a backyard on Stanton Road roughly six years ago.
That home is connected to Josef Schnabl, who has been arrested for violent crimes in the past, and Calvin Holloway. The home is Schnabl’s last known address. Holloway lived at the home when the remains were found. Months later, Holloway was murdered.
At this point, investigators believe Lawrence Houston had no connection to the home, other than being buried there. But he may have known Schnabl and Holloway through friends.
“We’re pretty certain it was blunt force trauma and the medical examiner has ruled this as a homicide,” said Lt. Mark Little with Southaven Police.
Who killed Lawrence Houston Sr.?
That’s the question Southaven police are trying to answer. Investigators were able to identify him with help from UT Knoxville, Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office and DNA.
“He was divorced and moved, so we don’t know if they knew, but we didn’t find a missing person report at the time,” said Little.
Police said Houston was born in 1952, had two kids and worked different jobs in Memphis before moving to the Southaven area.
“That’s when his trail basically went cold, around the time he was moving to Mississippi,” explained Little.
Investigators say Houston was acquainted with Schnabl and Holloway, who lived at the home where the remains were found. Holloway was killed months after Houston was found.
It is not clear if Schnabl was involved in Houston’s death or if Houston had any contact with Holloway.
After six years, police will have to work the investigation as a cold case and are seeking anyone with information.
“We’re hoping that we can put this together and bring somebody to justice for him,” said Little.
If you have any information on where Lawrence Houston Sr., call Southaven police or DeSoto County CrimeStoppers at (662) 429-8477.
