Zavalla man accused of murder extradited back to Texas from Arkansas

ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) - A Zavalla man accused in a murder that took place in January has been returned to Angelina County to face his charges, after having fled to Arkansas.

On Jan. 23, deputies found the body of a Zavalla man, Lawrence Jason Wise, 55, in a shed on his own property, according to a release from Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman. Investigation led them to believe Jeremy Wayne Gladden, 41, also of Zavalla, had stolen Wise's truck, which was then seen in Johnson County, Arkansas.

On Jan. 26, Arkansas deputies arrested Gladden near Clarksville after a foot chase, Selman said. Gladden has been held in Arkansas since that time, and Selman said he fought extradition to Texas.

Murder charges were filed by sheriff's deputies, and an indictment was handed down by an Angelina County Grand Jury on May 17.

Gladden was returned to Texas on a governor's warrant and booked into the Angelina County Jail on Oct. 5. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday.

Related:

Missing truck of dead Zavalla man leads to Arkansas arrest

Angelina County officials investigating after body found near Zavalla