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Complete Forecast for  Sep 07 2008

TOP JOBS

By KENNETH DEAN
And
MALENA OGLES
Staff Writers

FLINT — Residents of the quiet lakefront community Harbor Way went to bed Friday night to the sound of popping fireworks in the distance and awoke to a scene of police cars and yellow tape Saturday morning — a neighbor had been slain.

The body of 20-year-old Dex Bailey Mclean was found by his parents shortly after 3:30 a.m. in their home in the 14700 block of Harbor Way Drive in the southern part of the county, according to Smith Count Sheriff’s Office investigators.

The family dog, a chocolate Labrador retriever was also killed in the attack.

Mclean’s parents, who own the Teasers club, returned home and found the body. Authorities said the 20-year-old suffered head wounds, was transported to Southwest Forensics Laboratory in Dallas for autopsy. The family dog was found in the backyard. Its body was also sent for autopsy to a local veterinarian’s office.

Smith County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Randy Meadows said the death could have happened during a burglary of the home.

“'There are some items missing from the home, but we didn't find any signs of forced entry,” Meadows said.

Meadows said there has been no connection made to the strip club, but added detectives are investigating leads and still conducting interviews with those who knew the victim.

According to Smith County Judicial records, Mclean was jailed in June for possession of marijuana.

Saturday afternoon, patrol cars were parked in front of the tan home which was sectioned off with yellow police tape. The morning newspaper lay just inside the police line unmoved and a few feet away family members of the victim sat in folding lawn chairs waiting for police to complete their investigation so they could return to their home.

Two of the family’s other dogs, a dachshund and poodle wandered about the property, the waters of Lake Palestine could be seen through the tree line behind the home.

“We don't think it was a home invasion-type deal, but it could have been a burglary gone bad,” Meadows said. “This is usually a pretty quite neighborhood,” Meadows said.

Several neighbors said they went to bed after the Fourth of July firework display, and were unaware of the homicide until the following morning.

When Pat Compeau woke up at 6 a.m., sheriff’s department cars surrounded the tan home two doors down.

“I saw that and thought my God, something’s up,” he said.

Deputies came by to question Compeau and other neighbors as whether they had seen or heard anything the following night.

“My wife and I were in bed by 10 p.m. and with the fans blowing, we didn’t hear anything,” he said.

Other neighbors said that with the sound of fireworks they wouldn’t have paid attention to any unusual noises.

“I’ve lived here for six years and it’s always been quiet. We’re on a dead end on the lake. There’s never much traffic,” he said.

Anyone with information about the homicide is urged to contact the Smith County Sheriff's Office at 903-566-6600 or the Tyler/Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.