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Apr 22, 2009 10:13 pm US/Central
Victim's Husband: Murder Suspect Was Building Lies
COPPELL (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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If anyone saw Tellgren and his dark green, extended-cab pickup truck on the night of April 16, they are asked to call police immediately.
KTVT / KTXA
Police haven't offered a motive in the murder of a missing Coppell woman. But her husband is suggesting one only to CBS 11 News.
Kathleen Garza's family is hurting over suggestions that she had more than a professional relationship with 75-year-old Leroy Tellgren, the man accused of killing her.
Garza's husband gave CBS 11 exclusive details about that relationship.
He said his wife thought she was headed to a Lewisville office building when she disappeared Thursday morning from a Coppell grocery store.
Raul Garza said his wife was about to go to work for Tellgren and even bought a leather office chair for the job. The chair is still sitting in her minivan.
The details surrounding Garza's business deal with the 75-year-old man have never been disclosed. But her husband is revealing them now because of what he said are improper suggestions that the two could have been romantically involved.
"I have young kids that can read and can start questioning their mother," Garza said. "I asked you to come out here sort of to set the record straight."
Garza said Tellgren convinced his wife that he owned a horse ranch in Collin County, a lawn mowing business and a Granbury western store.
Kathleen was promised a job overseeing all three from an office that Tellgren told them he was leasing in Lewisville. "I think it was a big façade. I think he was building lies. I think Leroy might have in fact fallen in love with her," he said.
Garza thinks that may have been the motive for murder.
Kathleen was last seen leaving the grocery store with Tellgren and Garza said her family believes she was killed when she rejected his advances.
"I have no doubt she loved me. I have no doubt she would not risk our relationship for anything," he said.
A representative for the family released the following statement Wednesday:
As you know, Kathy Garza has been missing since Thursday, April 16th. A suspect has been arrested and the official charges have been made. Currently, the police are in the process of narrowing down their search areas for Kathy. Details are being released by the police and the family as appropriate within the context of the ongoing investigation.
The Garza family would like to express their appreciation for the tremendous outpouring of support and friendship that they have received during this terrible ordeal. Nothing can take away the pain the family is experiencing at this time but the support and friendship given so freely has been invaluable.
Many of you are asking what you can do. The Garza family has been accepting visitors along with numerous offerings of food and emotional support. Kathy's younger brother was in for the last few days and he headed back to Minnesota yesterday to be by his mother's side during the arrest. Other family members will be making the trek soon.
There has been a fund for the Garza family set up at the Coppell Comerica bank. For those of you wishing to make donations to help defray the travel and other expenses the family is and will be incurring, you can send donations to:
Family of Kathy Garza Fund
P.O. Box 3537
Coppell, Texas 75019
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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