Page 26 - March 2021 TTI

Finding the Killers

PI Ron Potts Doing What He Does Best

by Ivan Vikin, Editor

Individuals arrested or indicted in this case are innocent until proven guilty.
March 16, 2017 - On a Houston was plagued shot and killed on March 16th. Brandie continued that
cool evening, a single with rampant gang it had been a month and the Houston Police
gunshot pierced the quiet violence. MS-13 added Department (HPD) had yet to actively work the
of a working-class to the murderous toll murder investigation. She explained to Ron that her
neighborhood near the along with the killing of son was a troubled young man who was involved in
intersection of West a teen girl in a satanic drugs but was a human being and deserved justice.
Riverwood Drive and ritual. Several of Lane was gunned down and left to die on the street.
Merriwood Lane in Houston’s murders that Once Ron was retained as a private investigator, he
Houston. The victim, same year made national contacted HPD Homicide to coordinate his
Lane Craig became one headlines reaching the investigation and activities. Ron did not want to step
of city’s 270 murders that New York Post and the on their toes. Detectives with Houston Homicide
year. At the time, Washington Post. It was wished Ron luck and told him that his independent
investigation would not present a problem. This gave
Ron, a retired Detective, the green light to put his
experience and expertise to work. Ron started
immediately to run down leads, utilize critical databases
only available to private investigators, and interview key
witnesses to find Lane’s killers.

Ron learned Lane had been dealing drugs on the night
of the shooting. Lane met with two black males driving
a Lexus SUV and reported to be drug dealers, to sell
them marijuana. The two males, later identified as
Demario Perez and Davonte Hubbard, decided to steal
Lane’s drugs and money that night. While sitting in the
back seat of the Lexus, Lane was shot in the chest. He
stumbled out of the vehicle, staggered down the street,
took one last breath, then collapsed and died. Houston
Police had a photo of the suspect Lexus SUV that was
taken from a local gas station. Unfortunately, the photo
no surprise to Lane’s mother that the Houston Police did not show the occupants nor a license plate. HPD
Department was slow to find her boy’s killers. In also recovered the cell phone belonging to Lane. Ron
desperation, Lane’s mom Brandie turned to a Private reviewed the texts and learned Lane had been texting a
Investigator. “Mario” right before he got into the SUV.

Brandie first met with Houston private investigator In the beginning of his investigation, the HPD would
Ron Potts on April 12, 2017. With tears in her eyes, not share any information with Ron. He had to launch
Brandie explained that her 22-year-old son Lane was his investigation based mainly on information provided

24 | MARCH 2021 THE TEXAS INVESTIGATOR