Christopher Bernard (Harris County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Deputies investigate scene where Bernard allegedly dumped body of a 29-year-old woman (KRTK/YouTube).
A Texas man who had recently finished a solicitation diversion program is behind bars after he allegedly strangled a sex worker, stuffed her body in his trunk and dumped her in a grassy field because he thought she would never be found.
Her remains were eventually discovered by landscapers who were cutting grass in the 100 block of Subsea Lane just outside of Houston on Oct. 2 at around 8 a.m., the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. Investigators determined the woman, later identified as 29-year-old Cortney Hall, had been there for several days. Detectives reviewed street cameras which showed a man drive up to the area and dump Hall’s body. Officers were able to identify the car through traffic cameras.
Police spoke with the vehicle’s registered owner, 25-year-old Christopher Bernard, who reportedly admitted to picking up the victim as a prostitute. He and the victim then went back to a motel where they had sex, a criminal complaint said. He allegedly claimed Hall tried to take his wallet and keys. Bernard allegedly told police that they fought and he strangled her to death.
He also allegedly admitted to leaving her body in a “place where she wasn’t likely to be found,” cops said.
The sheriff’s Violent Criminals Apprehension Team arrested Bernard Oct. 4 for murder and tampering with a corpse. He was taken to the Harris County Jail where he’s being held on a $400,000 bond. His attorney, Lewis Thomas, told Law&Crime that further investigation will “bring to light” his client’s version of events. He declined to comment beyond that.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez credited detectives for a job well done.
“Great, prompt work by the team!” he said in a statement posted to Facebook.
Prosecutors noted Bernard had finished a diversion program in April after a September 2023 arrest for solicitation for prostitution. In that case, he had allegedly offered what he thought was a prostitute $40 for sex. The prostitute turned out to be an undercover officer. Prosecutors dismissed the charges after he completed the program.
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