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TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

Former student indicted for murder in the case of Ty Pickens’ death

Former student indicted for murder in the case of Ty Pickens death

A former TCU student has been indicted for murder in the case of Ty Pickens' death.

Brennan Trainor Rodriguez had four counts brought against him by a Tarrant County grand jury on Friday, including one count of felony murder, a second count of manslaughter, a third count of tampering with physical evidence and a fourth count of delivering a controlled substance which resulted in a death, according to Melody McDonald, public affairs officer for the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's office.

The murder charge is a first degree felony that carries a sentence of up to life in prison. Manslaughter, a second-degree felony, carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Tampering with physical evidence, a third-degree felony, carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Delivering a controlled substance, also a third-degree felony, carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

According to the indictment, Rodriguez injected heroin into Pickens' body "on or about the date of January 29," causing Pickens' death.

Pickens, the grandson of oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens, died on January 29 at Baylor All-Saints Hospital in Fort Worth from a heroin overdose. Rodriguez was arrested in March for tampering with physical evidence after Pickens' death and was released on $5,000 bond, according to the Tarrant County Clerk's Office. 

According to a sworn affidavit filed by Fort Worth Police in March, Andrew Tittle, Rodriguez’s cousin and a former student, said Rodriguez hid evidence before the police searched the apartment and brought it back after the police left.

TCU Director of Communications Lisa Albert said the university had no official statement to give since Rodriguez is not a student. Rodrigez is listed in the TCU address book as a former student.

Rodriguez's next court date is scheduled for July 16, according to the Tarrant County District Court's office.

To view an official copy of the indictment, see below:

 

 

 

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