STANTON – There are still tons of questions needing to be answered after police found a woman dead inside of her Stanton home.
On June 30, 2022, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Stanton Police Department officers and Martin County EMS were dispatched to the area of Buffalo Court in reference to an unresponsive female.
“Upon arrival, officers located a female inside the residence that showed no signs of life and EMS confirmed that the subject was deceased on scene,” stated Stanton Chief of Police Joe Bob Morales. “The cause of death is undermined at this time as the officers continue their investigation in an attempt to discover the exact cause of death.”
An autopsy was ordered, and the body was transported to South Plains Forensic Pathology in Lubbock.
“This investigation is open pending the Medical Examiner's report from Lubbock,” added Morales.
The Martin County Messenger was able to gather more information through an Open Records Request which identified the decedent as Fay Windsor Lehman, 44 of Stanton. Officers were dispatched to the Buffalo Court address after the decedent’s husband, Justin Wade Lehman, called the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. It is not clear at this time what was stated during conversation between Lehman and the Sheriff’s Office Dispatcher.
On week later, Lehman was arrested reportedly in the Stripe’s parking lot in Stanton by the DEA Task Force out of Midland.
It’s reported that the timing of the arrest had nothing to do with his wife’s death. He was already under investigation by the DEA prior to her being found unresponsive.
On July 7, 2022, Justin Wade Lehman, 45 of Stanton, was arrested by members of the DEA Task Force and assisted by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into the Dan Saunder’s Law Enforcement Center at 4:34 p.m. and charge with Manufacturing Delivery of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 Greater than or equal to 4 grams and less than 200 grams, Texas Health and Safety Code § 481.112.
Except as authorized by this chapter, a person commits this offense if the person knowingly manufactures, delivers, or possesses with intent to deliver a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1.
An offense under Subsection (a) is a felony of the first degree if the amount of the controlled substance to which the offense applies is, by aggregate weight, including adulterants or dilutants, four grams or more but less than 200 grams.
The drugs in Penalty Group 1 include 10 different subcategories. Notable drugs included are Cocaine, Heroin, Codeine, Marijuana, Opium, Methamphetamines, Ketamine, Methadone, Oxycodone, Hydrocone, and Methadone.
After spending a few days in a Martin County jail cell, Lehman was picked up and transported to Midland County where he is still incarcerated.