Suspect in pregnant woman's shooting death had lengthy criminal history

Justin Jerel Herron Justin Jerel Herron Photo: Houston Police Department Photo: Houston Police Department Image 1 of / 9 Caption Close Suspect in pregnant woman's shooting death had lengthy criminal history 1 / 9 Back to Gallery

A 31-year-old man has been charged with capital murder in the death of an 18-year-old pregnant woman whose body was found in a northwest Houston motel room, police said.

Justin Jerel Herron is accused of shooting and killing Patra Perkins inside the HomeTowne Suites at the 5900 block of Guhn Road.

Perkins' body was found by police early Monday inside a room at the motel with multiple gunshots, according to police.

Police believe the teen had been dead since Friday. The room at the motel was registered to Herron from Aug. 2 through Aug. 9, police said.

Police have been searching for Herron since they made the gruesome discovery Monday.

The 31-year-old is out on a $35,000 bond stemming from a July 2018 case in which Herron fled from police attempting to arrest him.

RELATED: Woman found shot to death in northwest Houston motel room

Harris County prosecutors have three open felony cases against Herron, not including Tuesday's capital murder charge, records show. All three, which include evading arrest, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and theft, are set to be heard by a judge on Aug. 16, records show.

Herron has a lengthy criminal history that goes back more than a decade and includes aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, felony assault, endangering a child and evading arrest.

In 2016, Herron was indicted by a grand jury on a felony family violence assault charge after police said he struck a woman. That case was dismissed after Herron was convicted in a separate case involving an assault on a detention officer. The charge was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor and Herron served one year in county jail, according to court documents.

In 2011, a judge ordered Herron to serve one year in prison for endangering a child after running red lights and driving over the speed limit with a child unsecured in a child's safety seat, according to court documents.

Court records show Herron was convicted in Walbarger County, Texas of felony assault on a public servant in 2006.

Police found Perkins' body after they received a tip from a person who "flagged down" police as they patrolled an area near the motel, police said on Monday.

The officer spoke to management and conducted a welfare check, knocking on the motel room several times. When no one answered, officers went inside and found the woman's body, police said.

If you know of Herron's whereabouts, please call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600 or provide an anonymous tip to @CrimeStopHOU 713-222-TIPS for reward up to $5K for info leading to his arrest.

Michelle Iracheta is a digital reporter in Houston. Read her on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | michelle.iracheta@chron.com | NEWS WHEN YOU NEED IT: Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message | Sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your email here.