Convenience Big Store: This Houston man was jailed for 18 years without a trial

March 18, 2025

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Yasmeen Khalifa, Audience Engagement Producer

yasmeen.khalifa@houstonchronicle.com

Edric Wilson, 47, arrested in 2006 on charges of capital murder and aggravated assault, spent 18 years bouncing between the Harris County jail and state mental hospitals. Then authorities re-analyzed DNA evidence in the murder case and dropped it, setting the stage for his February release.

How bogged down are Harris County courts? This Houston man was jailed for 18 years without a trial.

Last spring, as local officials were taking a closer look at Harris County Jail inmates, they discovered something shocking: a man who had been locked up for 18 years without a trial.

Edric Wilson, who is now 47, was accused of murdering the great-aunt of Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen back in 2006. He also faced a separate aggravated assault charge involving a different victim.

Nearly two decades later, on Aug. 30, 2024, the murder charge against Wilson was dismissed. He pleaded guilty to the unrelated aggravated assault charge and was released on parole last month.

Through a review of court documents and interviews, the Houston Chronicle pieced together what happened and attempted to determine how much it cost. The resulting figure, about $1.6 million, is an estimate, and it's on the low end.

What can local officials learn from the case? Read more from investigative reporter Neena Satija here.

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☝️ One Last Word

Dave Matthews is used to selling out the Woodlands Pavilion every time he comes to the Houston area.

But he's going more intimate for a solo show at White Oak Music Hall in May.

It may not be everyone's cup of tea because of its size, but I love White Oak's cozy atmosphere. It feels like the artist is right in front you, singing to directly to you no matter where you're at in the venue.

Total fan fiction vibes.

— Yasmeen Khalifa