Beaumont — KFDM/Fox 4 News has obtained a Probable Cause Affidavit filed with Magistrate Judge Marc DeRouen for the arrest of Terry Rose, 67, on a charge of murdering Kimberly Langwell, and it indicates Rose told an informant he killed Langwell inside his home on Lindbergh on July 9, 1999, the night she disappeared, and then buried her on his property.
Based on that information, detectives obtained an evidentiary search warrant for Rose's residence and properties, and Thursday, while searching his home, confirmed human remains were found which are presumptively believe to be those of Kimberly Langwell. Beaumont police arrested Rose hours after the discovery.
DeRouen arraigned Rose this morning in jail and set bond at $1 million. He also ordered Rose to wear a GPS ankle monitor if he's able to post bond, and he must remain in Jefferson County.
Judge DeRouen says Rose looked down and said little. He answered basic questions and said he'd hire his own attorney. Over the next 24 years,
According to the affidavit for the arrest of Rose on a murder charge, a detective in the BPD Criminal Investigation Division stated that the investigation began July 10, 1999, when police arrived at the home of Langwell's family to take a missing person's report.
"The family stated that Langwell was last seen and heard from on Friday, July 9, 199, around 5:13 p.m. when leaving work. It was reported that Langwell had plans to stop at her ex-boyfriend's residence, Terry Rose, prior to going home. Langwell's daughter reported that she never arrived home the evening of July 9, 1999, or on July 10, 1999. Over the next 24+ years, there have been no confirmed sightings or digital trace of Langwell, and she is presumed deceased. In April 2024, a reliable informant provided detectives with the following information: Terry Rose told the informant that Langwell was murdered inside the residence at 1655 Lindbergh Drive, on July 9, 1999, and buried her on the property. Based on this information, detectives obtained an evidentiary residential search warrant for Terry Rose's residence and properties. On June 13, 2024, while searching Rose's residence at 1655 Lindbergh, consistent with the information provided by the reliable informant, confirmed human remains were located on the property, which are presumptively believed to be those of Kimberly Ann Langwell, 02-24-1965. Based on the facts gathered during this investigation and the provisions of Section 19.02 of the Texas Penal Code, Affiant respectfully requests that a complaint be accepted and a warrant be issued for the arrest of TERRY ROSE, 06-05-1957, charging him with MURDER."
Beaumont police hosted a news conference Friday morning and revealed the discovery of human remains during a search of Rose's home on Lindbergh Drive. They haven't identified the remains yet, but believe they're Kimberly Langwell's. Beaumont police, the FBI, ATF, the District Attorney's Office, and Texas EquuSearch attended the news conference. Police Chief Jim Singletary says it was a cooperative effort that led to the fast-moving developments and he praised everyone for an extraordinary effort. Chief Singletary says no one gave up on the case, and everyone worked from day one to reach this point. He also said officers remained in touch with Langwell's daughter and family all these years, and he says it was important to help bring them closure.
Rose once dated Langwell but they had broken up about six months before her murder.
Judge John Stevens signed a sealed search warrant and on Monday, Beaumont police and other law enforcement officers began looking inside Rose's home and on surrounding property in the 1600 block of Lindbergh.
The FBI joined the search Tuesday, and Thursday, city crews with heavy equipment were seen going inside the home, part of the search for evidence linked to Langwell's disappearance. Chunks of concrete were piled up outside.
Beaumont Police Department personnel were assisted in the search by members of the FBI Houston’s Evidence Response Team, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, ATF, Texas Equusearch, and the City of Beaumont Public Works.
Investigators say the search yielded additional evidence linked to the 1999 missing persons case turned murder. Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. was called to the scene and issued an arrest warrant for Rose on a murder charge. Rose was taken into custody at 6:15 p.m. Thursday by the Beaumont Police Special Assignments Unit. He was brought to the police station and then driven to jail.
KFDM/Fox 4's Aaron Mack was at police headquarters when officers walked Rose down the steps to a waiting patrol car. He asked Rose if he had anything to say.
"Terry Rose, you're being charged with the murder of Kimberly Langwell," said Aaron. "Do you have anything to say? Do you have anything to say to Kimberly's family?" Rose never answered.
"It tells people that are sitting out there thinking that they may have gotten away with something, that that's not always the way it is," Ofc. Carol Riley told Aaron. "New technology is always around the corner. Sleep with one eye open and know that we're still digging."
The FBI brought in cadaver dogs and specialized equipment, including a ground penetrating radar, to help with the search of several properties on Lindbergh Drive.
Langwell vanished on July 9, 1999. Her car was found in the parking lot of the shopping center on Dowlen at Phelan, near what was than an Eckerds drug store. She was supposed to meet her daughter for dinner later that night. Her purse and keys were still in the locked car.
The missing person's case has been the focus of countless KFDM reports, including Crime Stoppers reports in the years following the disappearance.
In April, the Oxygen Network series "Cold Justice" with former Harris County prosecutor Kelly Siegler aired an episode on the case. They spoke with Beaumont police and went to the home and property on Lindbergh owned by Terry Rose, a former boyfriend of Langwell. She and Rose had been separated for more than six months prior to the disappearance. The "Cold Justice" team and police developed evidence that Langwell had gone by Rose's home on July 9, prior to her disappearance, to help him with a project. They spoke with Rose and he denied knowing anything about her disappearance.
The District Attorney's Office launched a grand jury investigation shortly thereafter.
Beaumont police have been following up and say this was never a cold case. They've pursued leads over the years and searched several locations for any evidence of Langwell.
