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This is the second installment of “Murderprints: What to Expect When a Loved One is Murdered.” The first installment ended with Stephanie Holan’s grandfather, Robert Isaacks, missing and a body, bound in duct tape and wrapped in a tarp, found off I-10 past Ozona. Police have identified Freda Michelle Thomas, a woman seen travelling with Isaacks, as a person of interest.
On November 22, 2023, we received word from the medical examiner’s office that the body found off of I-10 was indeed my grandfather’s. Whenever I have heard tragic news, I automatically think about how I would feel. In this moment I realized that what I thought I would feel if a family member was murdered was nothing close to the actual feeling. There are no stages of grief with a murder. There is no acceptance, no bargaining, no denial. It just is.
The police then released a second press release. It was identical to the first, except that they added a thumbnail picture of the woman in purple Lennon glasses and a beanie cap. This enraged me. If you are going to put out a picture of a person wanted in connection with murder, it should be a picture that would enable people to recognize the suspect.
Working in the criminal court system has exposed me to the reality of the justice system. Real-life cases do not have a police officer or team that works on one case until it is solved. In my grandfather’s case, the thumbnail release was the only thing they shared to identify her. My grandfather was 88 years old. I suppose the police did not find it worth their time since he was already elderly.
Dealing with Family
I am the only attorney in the family. On either side. Ever. This means that your family members will not believe you know what you are talking about. They defer to the authorities, no matter how much you try to persuade them that it is not like TV. The police do not have the time or manpower to be that diligent. Since my family disagreed, I undertook catching my grandfather’s killer on my own.
I started scouring the internet. I searched every social media account Freda Michelle Thomas had. I pulled all the pictures of her. I cross-referenced and found her in tagged photos and downloaded those, as well. I pulled every criminal court record I could find. I went to the mattresses. I began posting pictures of Freda Michelle Thomas over the years. I wrote about how her drug addiction had changed her appearance. I had pictures of her arm tattoos analyzed and found out it read, “We are all made of Stars.” I asked people to check on their elderly family members, and I continually warned people not to approach her if they did find her. She is dangerous.
On December 20, 2023, my grandfather’s Jeep was recovered in Las Vegas. That is a 1,246-mile trip from Bandera. They did not find Freda Michelle Thomas. At this point, I was contacted by the media in Las Vegas and appeared on their nightly news, making a plea to the public to help find his murderer. I then appeared on Inside Edition, asking people across the U.S. to help. I received multiple messages reporting sightings, but none resulted in arrest.
In March of 2024, two non-profits, Search & Support San Antonio and Solve the Case, reached out and offered their assistance. They shared the photos and information regarding Freda Michelle Thomas on their platforms. These organizations ran stories and shared pictures and podcasts I appeared on to discuss the hunt for this woman.
On April 1, 2024, I received a call telling me that the U.S. Marshals had found Freda Michelle Thomas in Mexico and arrested her. Several hours later, they informed me the woman they’d arrested was not, in fact, Freda Michelle Thomas. This was the worst April Fool’s Day of my life. I again appeared on the news, pleading for the public to find this woman.
On May 20, 2024, I got the call telling me that they had arrested her in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
Over the next few days, Freda Michelle Thomas was transported back to Texas and is currently jailed in Bandera County awaiting trial. I learned she was caught because of my working with Solve the Case. This website shared my information and posts and received two separate call-ins reporting that she was in Oklahoma.
Since being jailed, I have received multiple calls that Freda Michelle Thomas wrote a letter to the judge and wanted me to have a copy because it “explained things.” I never asked for it and have never seen what it says. I also received a phone call telling me that Freda Michelle Thomas added me to her approved visitors list and wanted me to come so I could hear her side of the story. I have not, and will not, go see this woman.
Is this a happy resolution? In this context, it is the best resolution, but still very painful and tragic. Thousands of murders go unsolved each year and the perpetrators are in the wind. What was the factor that made this one of the ‘good’ cases? Vigilance. Constant vigilance. I refused to let my grandfather’s murder go unresolved. I kept it in the public eye and reminded people of what happened to my grandfather. I pushed content asking for help finding his murderer daily.