Four people are being charged with capital murder in relation to the 34-year-old Rockdale woman whose body was found Saturday.
Rockdale City Judge Jerry Waggoner issued warrants for capitol murder for Edward Berry, 29, John Wayne Stewart, 36, Candice Jones, 29 and Ashley Wesson Zawadzke, 23, on Tuesday afternoon.
The body of Emily Hacker was discovered this weekend in a shallow grave in Burleson County. She had been missing since Jan. 19 and was found near the town of Lyons.
Police say a property owner located a body with Hacker's description Saturday afternoon when searching for the source of a foul odor on his land. Upon discovery he notified Burleson County Sheriff's Office. The body was sent to Dallas for an autopsy.
The autopsy confirmed Emily Hacker's remains.
Hacker was reported missing early on Jan. 19 after police say an incident occurred in a Rockdale home.
Upon initial search Rockdale police and Texas Rangers failed to find evidence a violent crime had occurred but Lt. J.D. Newlin said a subsequent search discovered evidence sufficient to file charges. Newlin also said that all four people arrested were believed to have been in the room when the incident that led to the disappearance occurred.
Initial charges included aggravated assault. Newlin said at the time that charges could be upgraded pending on “future developments”.
Upon confirmation of Emily Hacker's remains charges were upgraded to capitol murder.