RICHMOND, Texas — Lamar Consolidated Independent School District's Gray Elementary is out for summer vacation, but families and employees still received news this week of a staff member’s sudden and tragic death.
37-year-old Early Childhood Special Education Aide and mother of four, Laura Smith, was found dead in her home not far from the school.
"Just totally shocking you know?" said neighbor Rick Garcia. "That’s something that I would never expect.”
Garcia lives right across the street from where investigators said Smith was found on Memorial Day with “traumatic injuries” after they responded to a wellness check.
Although, information about the case wasn’t released until Thursday.
"The sheriff’s office is currently conducting a homicide investigation,” said Fort Bend County Sheriff's Capt. Dalia Simons.
Simons would not reveal what type of weapon may have been used in the case or where in the house Smith was found.
But neighbors told KHOU 11 News they saw deputies remove items from the curb that Smith’s husband and others moved there after his wife’s death.
"It would appear that it’s an isolated incident," said Simons. "But again, we don’t have a suspect identified. We have leads that we’re following.”
Smith’s husband previously worked as a deputy with the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office before taking a job with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office in February.
Constable Mark Herman confirmed that he abruptly resigned Tuesday after meeting with internal affairs about his wife’s death.
“I really feel sad about it," said Garcia. "A really tragic situation.”
Gray Elementary is the same school where a teacher is under investigation by the district for shooting explicit videos.