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Murder suspect dies in prison by suicide

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The suspect in the murder of Sugar Land resident and Alief ISD teacher Wendy Duan died by suicide in February at a Louisiana jail, Sugar Land spokesman Doug Adolph confirmed to the Fort Bend Star on Wednesday.

Charvas Thompson, 26, of Houston, was found dead at the Caddo Parish Jail in Shreveport, where he was awaiting extradition to Fort Bend County on a charge of murder. In a court appearance shortly after his arrest in Louisiana, he had refused to waive extradition.

Sugar Land police received the information about Thompson's death shortly afterward and relayed it on a social media post.

Sugar Land police re -

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

A capacity crowd filled a large meeting room at the University Branch Library last week as Fort Bend County Judge KP George held his first Community Conversation of the year, with the theme "Fort Bend Forward."

During the event, Geroge, elected last November to his second term, touted the accomplishments of Commissioners Court so far this year, and also discussed the county's growth and diversity. He also acted as an emcee of sorts. introducing the several speakers who discussed the future of Fort Bend from their various perspetives.

First up was Carlos Guzman, the county's first-ever full-time economic opportunity and development director. Hired last year from a similar role at the City of Pasadena, he noted that Fort Bend County is in many respects different from that municipality, which is almost completely developed.

By contrast, Guzman noted, while the portions of Fort Bend neighboring Harris County are densely built, but of the county's growth in future years is projected to spread further to the center and eastern portions of the county. The drivers for that growth, the said, is Fort Bend's reputation for a high quality of life, high-quality health care facilities and educational opportunities.

Fort Bend also benefits from its proximity by highway and rail to the Port of Freeport, one of the most important ports along the Texas Gulf Coast.

Kevin Matocha, president of Stonehenge Holdings LLC, the primary developer of the county's Epicenter project in Rosenberg, spoke next. Matocha gave a highly detailed description of the multipurpose venue, which is slated to open later this year.

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