AURORA | Police in the north Texas town of McKinney say former Aurora Deputy City Manager Frank Ragan and his wife were slain inside their home, and that their son now faces charges for their murders.
Officers in McKinney were called to the Ragan’s home Dec. 28 after family from out of state called police requesting a welfare check, not having been able to reach Leonard Frank Ragan, 73, nor his wife Jackie Ragan, 72, for several days.
“Officers made entry into the residence through the rear door and immediately located two adult homicide victims in the living room,” police said in a statement posted on social media.
While police searched the home, they encountered a man in a bedroom, armed with a gun. The man was later identified as Bryce Ragan, 34, son of Frank and Jackie Ragan.
“Two officers discharged their weapons, striking (Bryce) Ragan multiple times,” police said.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital and listed in stable condition.
The Dallas Morning News reported that police officials said Frank and Jackie Ragan died from stab wounds, and that their son Bryce now faces murder charges in the case.
Frank Ragan was an assistant city manager and deputy city manager for Aurora from 1995 until 2008.
He was deeply involved in Aurora’s government during a time of great growth and change, including the closure of Fitzsimons Army Base and conversion to what is now the Anschutz Medical Campus
He was also directly in charge of the police department when Aurora became a national leader in community policing, and during a period of upheaval as the city struggled with issues surrounding police discipline.
Ragan moved to and became city manager of McKinney, Texas from 2008 until 2010.
In Aurora, Ragan was also held partly responsible for allowing convicted serial rapist Brent Brents to evade arrest by Aurora police in 2004 and go on to sexually assault 14 other women and children, as reported by the Sentinel.
Police had Brents in custody in 2004 after admitting to molesting an 8-year-old boy. But police and local prosecutors blamed a miscommunication on his not being arrested for more than two months later.
In that time, Brents assaulted numerous other victims.
The city paid out $240,000 to victims in a later settlement.
Former police Chief Ricky Bennet resigned his position during the controversy and Ragan, and his supervisor, former Aurora City Manager Ron Miller, were both suspended without pay for two weeks as discipline.
Both resumed their roles in 2005 and continued with the city.
As of Thursday, McKinney police had not released details about a motive in the Ragans’ murder, nor an update on Bryce Ragan’s condition.
How sad. Why is a 34-year-old male living with parents?
Sounds like Rob Reiner’situation. Son, Nick, 32, living with parents whom he allegedly stabbed to death.
How was Ragan held partly responsible for allowing convicted serial rapist Brent Brents to evade arrest by Aurora police in 2004 and go on to sexually assault 14 other women and children?
Heck my stepbrother moved back in with parents in his late 30s due to divorce. Life happens, and you do the best you can with the options available.
Yes. Trying to be efficient and save money due to divorce is understandable. Are either of the alleged murderers divorced?