FORT WORTH, Texas — A man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the execution-style killings of three individuals linked to a car sale gone wrong in late 2020. Lamont Cousins, 48, was convicted for his role in the murders of 46-year-old Veronica Del Jones, 65-year-old Virginia Lewis, and 55-year-old Clayton Turrentine.
A Tarrant County jury delivered the sentence after hearing the harrowing details of the case, which Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Lloyd Whelchel described as “the execution of three people.” He emphasized that the severity of Cousins’ actions capped a lifetime of troubling behavior.
The events unfolded on December 14, 2020, when authorities reported that Turrentine, the owner of Bill’s Auto Sales, had purchased a red Dodge from Cousins. After reselling the vehicle, the buyer discovered a lien on it, resulting in repossession. Following this, Turrentine refunded the buyer, which spiraled into the tragic events that followed.
According to a statement from the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, Lewis was found dead at Bill’s Auto Sales, while the other two victims were discovered in an abandoned bait shop in Palo Pinto County. Prosecutors allege that Cousins shot Lewis at the car lot before kidnapping Turrentine and Del Jones. He and a co-defendant, Andrew Vandermeer, allegedly tied the two victims up, transported them to the bait shop, and executed them.
Witnesses described a chilling scene, with Vandermeer testifying that Cousins directed him during the drive, ominously stating that “this is the end of the road.” Upon arrival, Cousins fatally shot Turrentine in the back of the head, then returned to the vehicle to retrieve Jones, whom he also killed in a similar manner.
Assistant District Attorney Dale Smith highlighted the brutal nature of the crimes, stating that Cousins left Lewis lying in a pool of her blood, “on the ground like a dog.” The jury was confronted with the tragic reality of the brutality involved in the killings, engendering a sense of grave injustice.
Vandermeer, 36, has indicated he plans to accept a plea deal, potentially resulting in a 45-year prison sentence. The case has drawn attention to the extreme violence that can emerge from seemingly mundane situations, underscoring the far-reaching consequences of criminal conduct.
The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office has expressed satisfaction with the life sentence, hoping it provides some measure of justice for the victims and their families.
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