YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED

In response to questions regarding the reward fund, which was established in the Thomas Brown case, we determined this week that the fund was transferred about two years ago from the Hemphill County Sheriff’s Office to Hemphill County.

The action was taken at the insistence of the county auditor, who advised that the account be brought under the county depository contract. Three county officials have signature authority over the account—Judge George Briant, County Clerk Lisa Johnson, and County Treasurer Kay Smallwood. The fund balance is now $12,176.31. No disbursements have been made from the account, and none have been requested.

The fund was originally established to reward anyone providing information that would help in the search for the Canadian High School student, who had been missing since Nov. 24, 2016. Brown’s remains were discovered over two years later, near the entrance to Lake Marvin.

Sheriff Nathan Lewis declined to identify the individual who made that discovery and neither confirmed nor denied, despite persistent rumors, that they were found by former Deputy Pyne Gregory. We did determine, however, that law enforcement officers are excluded from eligibility to receive any reward funds in this case.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Record has submitted questions to the State Attorney General’s office, seeking an official statement regarding the status of their investigation into Thomas Brown’s death, and requesting specific information as to whether the cause of death has been determined and whether the case is considered a homicide investigation. We will publish their response when we receive it.