CONROE- A Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted an East Montgomery County man for murder last Thursday in the death of his neighbor, who authorities say was his girlfriend’s estranged husband.
Thomas Jason Amburn, 31, of Splendora has been in the Montgomery County Jail since May 3, with bond set at $100,000.
It was just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, when Splendora Police, Patton Village Police, and a Montgomery County Hospital District ambulance responded to a 911 call in the 15000 block of First St. in Splendora, where the reportee said there was a traffic accident and an altercation.
Police and medics found 27-year-old Shawn Michael Porter of Splendora stabbed to death and lying in a ditch by the railroad tracks.
When Splendora Police Chief Alex Hadrych learned the circumstances, he went to the scene personally and requested assistance from the Texas Rangers, which is common with smaller agencies since they have less experience and resources to deal with a homicide. The Rangers led the investigation and were joined by Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and Union Pacific Railroad Police.
MCSO Lt. Bill Bucks said Amburn stabbed Porter during an altercation about a woman identified by neighbors of both men as Porter’s wife, Lindsey. All three lived in the same mobile harm park a short distance for the crime scene. The fatal love triangle becomes more bizarre and difficult to follow as the story unfolds.
Amburn was also married, but in the planning or process of a divorce. His soon to be ex-mother-in-law, whose name was withheld at her request, said Lindsey Porter was living with Amburn, but was still legally married to Shawn Porter.
Amburn’s mother-in-law said it was her understanding that Lindsey Porter and both men attended a “mud race” earlier in the day, but Lindsey Porter for unknown reasons, wound up with her husband Shawn Porter, instead of Amburn.
Lindsey Porter was in the vehicle with her estranged husband Shawn when the altercation that led to his death began.
Amburn’s mother-in-law said his young daughter was in his vehicle when the altercation occurred and he took the little girl to his mother’s house in the same mobile home park, located at 15081 First Street, where he, Shawn and Lindsey Porter lived.
Amburn’s mother-in-law’s account of events matched the basic information provided to MCN by law enforcement on the scene.
“It was actually more of a family violence,” Bucks said. “The female jumped into a vehicle (with Porter) and tried to leave.”
Shawn Porter tried to drive north on First Street beside the railroad tracks between Splendora and Patton Village. Bucks said their preliminary investigation indicated Amburn used his pickup to block the road, causing Shawn Porter’s car to run into the ditch beside the tracks. At that point, the fatal altercation began, he said.
Contrary to the initial 911 call, Bucks said there was little if any contact between the two vehicles, and they were more or less beside one another when they came to a stop.
Public Data shows Amburn has a lengthy criminal record including a charge of aggravated assault causes serious bodily injury, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of assault causes bodily injury family member. Other priors include possession of a controlled substance; driving while intoxicated; failure to give notice striking a highway fixture or landscaping and driving while license suspended.
Lt. Bucks said there were prior incidents involving the two men.
Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon responded to the scene personally, and remained until around 3 a.m. on Sunday, saying a first-hand look at the scene and investigation gives prosecutors a distinct advantage versus waiting a few days and having only photos and reports to review.
Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace James Metts conducted the inquest and ordered an autopsy. He remained on scene until early Sunday, saying it was his obligation to make sure his part of the process was accurate.
Investigators interviewed Jason Amburn and Lindsey Porter overnight, before eventually arresting Amburn for murder. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail at 5:12 a.m. on Sunday.
