Teens Stole Woman’s Car, Cops Say. Police Found Her Decomposing Body in Her Garage

As Clara Jeanne Barna, 75, walked into the garage of her Houston, Texas, home, two teens followed behind her, police said, reported the Houston Chronicle.

Clara Jeanne Barna

David Paul Jones and Teihjon Shannon, both 17, had their sights set on Barna’s 2003 Buick LeSabre, and they tried to steal it from the woman by grabbing her keys, police allege, the newspaper reported.

When Jones got into the car, police said, he backed it out of the driveway while Shannon was holding Barna, running over both her and the suspect, police said, KPRC reported.

The crash wounded Shannon in his leg, authorities said. But Barna suffered more severe injuries, including a fractured skull and a broken back, KPRC reported. Shannon dragged Barna back into the garage, police said. Then he and Jones allegedly took off in the Buick, leaving Barna to die, the news station said.

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Surveillance video showed two males walk into a Denny’s restaurant near Barna’s home {snip} after parking the same Buick at the establishment, ABC 13 reported. They ordered about $50 worth of food and then tried to dine and dash, employees told the news station.

Police say the manager wrote down the Buick’s license plate number, which became a “valuable clue” in the case, the Chronicle reported. The newspaper says it’s unclear whether the manager called the cops. The manager told ABC 13 the teens begged him not to, even offering him a cellphone to keep quiet.

David Paul Jones and Teihjon Shannon

Investigators caught up with Jones on Saturday and arrested him in Barna’s death after he allegedly confessed to playing a role in it, KPRC reported. Shannon was apprehended Monday and also confessed, police say, according to the news station.

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