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Steven Alexander Hobbs, 51, has lived on the Harris County Jail within the most safety unit for greater than 10 years.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office says his keep has been usually uneventful. Although, the size of his keep is extraordinary.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I’ve never seen anyone in for over a decade,” mentioned Crime Stoppers’ Director of Victim Services Andy Kahan.
Hobbs is the longest serving present Harris County inmate. He’s been jailed and awaiting trial since his arrest in 2011.
In October 2011, investigators with the HCSO introduced the arrest in a information convention after which dropped a bombshell that they suspected he’s a serial killer.
“Steven Hobbs has been a predator. He has been a predator for at least a decade. So now, we’re looking at everything just to see if he fits,” defined then-HCSO Homicide Unit Lt. Rolf Nelson in 2011.
Hobbs is charged with two capital murders within the deaths of Sarah Sanford and Patricia Pyatt. He can also be a suspect within the demise of Wanda Trombley. Hobbs is charged with two rapes, one kidnapping and two aggravated assaults with a lethal weapon. Investigators have all the time believed there are extra victims.
“The number of deceased victims, I have no way of knowing that at this time. The number of living victims, I really can’t guess either,” mentioned the prosecutor.
Deputies mentioned Hobbs, a safety guard commissioned to hold a gun, preyed on intercourse staff within the Crosby, Highlands, and Barrett Station in areas of east Harris County. They mentioned he used a gun, baton, handcuffs, his towering peak and weight to assault.
Investigators consider the married father of two focused prostitutes as a result of they’re hesitant to go to police.
Trombley’s physique was present in September 2011 alongside Red Bluff Road. Sanford’s physique was discovered bare and certain with handcuffs in 2010 in a wooded space 5 miles from Hobbs’ Crosby dwelling. Pyatt, a mom of 5 youngsters, was discovered strangled in 2002 alongside the banks of the San Jacinto river. DNA linked Hobbs to Pyatt and Sanford’s murders, investigators mentioned.
Living victims recognized him.
“This guy was thinking no one was going to catch him,” mentioned then-Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
Hobbs was set to face trial in 2015, however new DNA testing put it on maintain. By the time the case was able to go once more, Hurricane Harvey hit inflicting the courthouse to close down for years and the COVID-19 pandemic added to the delay.
“It’s finally time to get this case to fruition,” mentioned Kahan.
The Harris County District Attorney’s workplace is now transferring at a quick tempo within the Sanford case, submitting a lot of motions this week. A pre-trial listening to on the admittance of Hobbs’ assertion is schedule for April 6. Trial is ready for May. Prosecutors declined an interview request so shut jury choice.
In response to the label “serial killer,” Mandy Miller, one in every of three protection attorneys mentioned, “The defense team is eager to see what evidence the State has to substantiate such a claim.”
Hobbs spends his time within the jail’s regulation library and has corresponded with the court docket, every now and then.
After greater than 10 years, he could quickly be transferring out of the Harris County jail.
Kahan empathizes with the victims and their households.
“It’s absolutely gut-wrenching to wait this long and I hope, finally, perhaps in 2022, we’re going to come to fruition and get this case disposed of one way or another,” mentioned Kahan.
For extra on this story, comply with Jessica Willey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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