Posted 2:58 am Saturday, November 03, 2012
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Affidavit: Woman killed in doorway after forced entry
BY KENNETH DEAN
kdean@tylerpaper.com
Court documents obtained Friday allege James Calvert kicked in a locked door at his former wife’s home Wednesday moments before authorities said he shot her multiple times and kidnapped their 4-year-old son.
kdean@tylerpaper.com
Court documents obtained Friday allege James Calvert kicked in a locked door at his former wife’s home Wednesday moments before authorities said he shot her multiple times and kidnapped their 4-year-old son.
The shooting on Wednesday touched off an intensive manhunt, culminating with Calvert’s capture in West Monroe, La., after a short pursuit with local police.
The child, Lucas Calvert, was recovered safely by police, but his mother, 30-year-old Jelena Radobanovic Sriraman, died of her wounds at the scene on Bain Place in Tyler.
The arrest affidavit by Tyler Police Detective Kenneth Gardner states when he arrived on the scene he saw Mrs. Sriraman’s body half in and half out of the door leading from the carport to the house.
“I entered the open carport area and could see that the door leading into the residence from the carport had been damaged. The damage to the doorframe was consistent with someone forcing their way into the residence,” he said in the affidavit.
Gardner stated that, according to witnesses, Mrs. Sriraman told them her former husband believed she and his first wife were working together to set him up to be served court papers.
Smith County records show Deidre Adams, Calvert’s first wife, filed additional paperwork with the court and Cameron Castleberry, Mrs. King and Mrs. Sriraman’s attorney, said the new papers were for a child support/medical bill repayment issue.
“There were some medical bills with Mrs. King’s son that had not been paid, so we had filed enforcement papers,” he said.
Castleberry said he would not had thought Calvert would resort to such violence.
Castleberry said Calvert had a past, but that he had not shown any type of abusive or violent behavior toward Mrs. Sriraman since the couple divorced in 2010.
The arrest affidavit by Tyler Police Detective Kenneth Gardner states when he arrived on the scene he saw Mrs. Sriraman’s body half in and half out of the door leading from the carport to the house.
“I entered the open carport area and could see that the door leading into the residence from the carport had been damaged. The damage to the doorframe was consistent with someone forcing their way into the residence,” he said in the affidavit.
Gardner stated that, according to witnesses, Mrs. Sriraman told them her former husband believed she and his first wife were working together to set him up to be served court papers.
Smith County records show Deidre Adams, Calvert’s first wife, filed additional paperwork with the court and Cameron Castleberry, Mrs. King and Mrs. Sriraman’s attorney, said the new papers were for a child support/medical bill repayment issue.
“There were some medical bills with Mrs. King’s son that had not been paid, so we had filed enforcement papers,” he said.
Castleberry said he would not had thought Calvert would resort to such violence.
Castleberry said Calvert had a past, but that he had not shown any type of abusive or violent behavior toward Mrs. Sriraman since the couple divorced in 2010.
“He made her uncomfortable, but he did not show any signs of anything like this. Of course, he did have the history with both ex-wives, but during the recent court case, he acted very cordial and was always cool. At the end of the trial, he was upset and crying, but that was because Mrs. Sriarman was moving with his children to Houston,” he said.
Calvert was arrested in the past on charges of aggravated assault/family violence and violating a protective order and has been on medications to treat depression. Court records also showed he had some type of psychiatric issues.
Calvert remains jailed in West Monroe where he is being held on the capital murder warrant signed by State District Judge Jack Skeen Jr.
Skeen also set bond in the case at $2 million.
Police said Friday it was unclear when Calvert would be returned to Tyler or whether he would fight extradition.
Castleberry said although he did his job to help Mrs. Sriarman move to Houston to be with her new husband, the case would haunt him.
“This shocked me because I never saw any signs. This will always be with me,” he said.
Calvert was arrested in the past on charges of aggravated assault/family violence and violating a protective order and has been on medications to treat depression. Court records also showed he had some type of psychiatric issues.
Calvert remains jailed in West Monroe where he is being held on the capital murder warrant signed by State District Judge Jack Skeen Jr.
Skeen also set bond in the case at $2 million.
Police said Friday it was unclear when Calvert would be returned to Tyler or whether he would fight extradition.
Castleberry said although he did his job to help Mrs. Sriarman move to Houston to be with her new husband, the case would haunt him.
“This shocked me because I never saw any signs. This will always be with me,” he said.
