The second search for the weapon believed to be used in the murder of a mother and her infant daughter in 2017 has ended after two days.
Sheriff Parnell McNamara said the office was searching Belton Lake for the gun, but it was not found. In November 2017, investigators searched the Brazos River.
On Nov. 5, 2017, Valarie Martinez and her daughter Azariah Martinez were found shot to death at Tradinghouse Creek Reservoir in Hallsburg.
Two days later, Christopher Weiss was arrested in Temple in connection to their deaths. He has since been indicted for capital murder.
McNamara said investigators had been looking at Weiss as a suspect since the beginning of the investigation and deputies had his home under surveillance.
Weiss admitted to authorities that he was in a romantic relationship with the Valerie until Oct. 30, 2017.
Weiss denied to authorities that he had gotten into an argument with Martinez. Weiss also denied that she was wanting or asking for child support and said that she did not want child support from him.
A witness told officials that he saw Weiss get into an argument with Martinez before she left to meet Weiss at the lake.
McNamara said although investigators could not find the gun, he believes the case against Weiss is strong. He said finding the gun would have been the “icing on the cake.”
