Authorities Fear Texas Killer Of Megan Getrum And Molly Matheson Could Have More Victims

Authorities in Texas fear that a suspect already jailed for two capital murders may have more victims that they don’t know about. 23-year-old Reginald Gerard Kimbro was charged on Friday, May 26, 2017 in the capital murder of Megan Getrum. He was previously arrested on April 27, 2017 and charged in the murder of Molly Matheson. As they investigated the killings and the motivation behind them, they discovered other violent incidents that peppered Kimbro’s past that occurred in Texas and Arkansas.

Molly Matheson and Megan Getrum

Molly Matheson was a 22-year-old woman who lived in Fort Worth, Texas. She was discovered in the bathroom of her home by her mother on April 10, 2017. That Tuesday, her death was ruled a homicide. According to police reports, she was raped and strangled. When Molly was discovered, she was clad only in a grey tshirt in the shower, and police surmised that she was placed there to wash off any trace evidence. The officers also discovered a load of laundry that had recently been done that contained a fitted sheet, a pillowcase, and other articles of clothing. According to the arrest warrant, it appeared that the items may have contained DNA evidence and were placed there in an effort to destroy it.

Kimbro was brought in for questioning on April 14, 2017. The two had dated briefly when she was a student at the University of Arkansas in 2014. He admitted to being there in her apartment but also denied murdering her or having intercourse with Matheson. Kimbro was released after questioning when there was insufficient evidence to hold him.

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Fort Worth Police believe that when Kimbro left their headquarters, he was angry and immediately went in pursuit of his next victim.

Megan Getrum was last seen alive leaving from her Plano, Texas home at The Preserve at Arbor Hills apartment complex on April 14, 2017. Surverillance footage saw her as she was dressed in exercise clothing and holding a water bottle. She was known to like to walk around Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. The next day, her body was found adrift in Lake Ray Hubbard, located just a half-hour from her home. An autopsy determined that Getrum was raped and strangled. The official cause of death was blunt force injury, neck compression, and drowning.

When Kimbro was questioned by the Fort Worth Police Department, he was wearing a red, long-sleeve shirt and black pants. According to witness statements on April 15, 2017, a black man dressed identically was seen acting suspiciously near Arbor Hills Nature Preserve where Getrum’s body was found.

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DNA samples and evidence taken from both victims matched Kimbro, leading to him being charged for both murders.

Questions About Kimbro’s Past

When detectives first looked into Reginald Gerard Kimbro’s past, they discovered that he had a history of violent sexual assaults. Two specific incidents that occurred on March 21, 2014 involved a sexual assault where Kimbro choked and raped a female victim, but did not kill her. She reported the assault to the police and had a rape kit and sexual assault exam done. Kimbro’s DNA was found and loaded into CODIS, where the second incident was found. Kimbro was arrested, but he claimed the sex was consensual. The DA’s office in South Padre Island dropped the charges against Kimbro.

The second incident that detectives investigating Matheson’s murder discovered took place earlier on September 22, 2012. This sexual assault involved Kimbro and a female victim where Kimbro again choked and raped his victim, then threatened to kill her. He instead released her, after which she reported the assault to the Plano police department. A sexual assault exam was performed, and Kimbro’s DNA was found. Kimbro was not arrested or charged for this offense.

Because of the series of escalating events and the time frame between 2014 and Matheson’s murder, authorities are worried that there may be a third or even fourth victim located in Kimbro’s timeline that they do not know about. Plano police officials are currently reviewing any unsolved rapes or murders that might have connections to Reginald Kimbro.

When Molly Matheson’s family found out about Kimbro’s previous history, they were understandably upset. In a statement issued to CBS DFW in Dallas Fort-Worth, they said the following.

“It is frustrating to know that neither of these senseless murders would have ever happened if our judicial system had done its job properly.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be dropped off at a Frost Bank or mailed: PO Box 100275, Fort Worth, TX 76185. #MollyMathesonMemorialFund pic.twitter.com/bRqH5n9yHZ

— Nick (@Lord_Grandpa) April 14, 2017

Kimbro is currently being held in Fort Worth on a $1 million dollar bail bond. It is unknown at this time if he has retained legal counsel.

[Featured Image by Mansfield Police Department]