Longview Man Found Dead in Creek was Also Burglary Suspect

GREGG COUNTY — A Longview man found dead in March near the Boorman Trail was connected to the burglary of a nearby pawn shop a few days before and apparently was running from police when he fell into water and drowned. According to the Longview News-Journal, the body of Kendrick Fitzgerald Hill, 32, was found March 6 floating face down in shallow water near the trail. According to an autopsy performed by Forensic Medical of Texas in Tyler, Hill died of hypothermia and drowning, and his death was ruled accidental. Hill also tested positive for PCP.

Longview police reports state Hill was driving a vehicle that was used Feb. 25 in the burglary at Insta Cash Pawn Shop on West Loop 281. Police said officers arrived at the business at 4:04 a.m. Feb. 25, in reference to a burglar alarm and chased a suspect from behind the building into the woods. Police called off the search after more than two hours because of bad weather. Police said the vehicle recovered at the scene contained car stereos and other items taken from the pawn shop. Police said the vehicle belonged to a family friend of Hill.