HARRISON COUNTY, Texas — The Harrison County Sheriff's Office says an arrest has been made after the body of a man was found Saturday night.
According to the HCSO, on Saturday, around 9 p.m., deputies responded to Hershel McCoy Rd., in the Diana area, regarding an unresponsive man near the roadway.
When officials arrived on scene, they found the body of Blake Edward Reddock, of Avinger.
"The manner in which Reddock was found has confirmed this to be a homicide investigation," the HCSO said.
The HCSO identified the suspect as Canton Echols, 33, of Harleton, who has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2008. Authorities say Echols rode with Reddock to the pawn shop and were spotted on surveillance camera together a little after 4 p.m. near Harleton close to where Reddock's body was found. Officials say Echols stabbed Reddock "several times." Investigators later identified Reddock through his tattoos and VIN number on his vehicle that was set on fire on Oscar Regan Rd.
Echols was booked into the Harrison County Jail for first-degree murder.
Sheriff Brandon 'BJ' Fletcher says text sent to Reddock's mother concerning the hitchhiker was false.
"I would like to clarify that if we believe that our public was in danger, we would have been all over that," said Sheriff Fletcher. "We did not want to get on there and say that we don't believe there's a hitchhiker, because we didn't want to give our hand up on what we were looking at."
Messages from Reddock's phone were sent to his mother the night of the murder saying he was picking up a hitchhiker.
"We believe it was sent after he had been killed," said Sheriff Fletcher. "She had received a message from her son he'd picked up a hitchhiker he gave him some gas money and that he'd be there shortly after receiving this message."
Reddock's mother responded and did not get any further replies.
"They showed delivered and then after that they stopped delivering and the phone had been turned off," said Fletcher.
A GoFundMe has been established to help pay for Reddock's funeral expenses.
Fletcher said his team worked tirelessly over the weekend and still needs the public’s help with any surveillance footage they may have.
If you can help the HCSO with their investigation, please contact their Criminal Investigation Division at 903-923-4020. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may also reach out to the Marshall/Harrison County Crime Stoppers at 903-935-9969 or through the P3 App.
CBS19 will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.
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