• BY JJ VELASQUEZ - jvelasquez@vicad.com
• Originally published November 13, 2009 at 6:18 p.m., updated November 14, 2009 at 1:45 a.m.

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PORT LAVACA - A 34-year-old Port Lavaca man and his wife were charged with murder on Friday in the assault death of their neighbor.

David Arredondo Jr. and Laura Lee Arredondo, also 34, were questioned Thursday about Carrol Fondren's death.

On Thursday morning, detectives returned to the South Port Lavaca neighborhood where the death occurred. They removed bloody clothing and a large knife covered with a substance believed to be blood from a storm drain, according to a Port Lavaca Police Department news release.

Detectives identified the husband as the probable owner of the clothing.

Fondren, a 68-year-old Port Lavaca man, was found dead in his home at 514 S. Trinity St. on Nov. 5 after Kenneth Mollnar, Fondren's friend who lived in a motor home next to his house, called police to check on him. Police described the scene as a "violent assault."

When police arrived at the home, they were able to see Fondren on the floor through a window. Police have not released how Fondren died.

Port Lavaca police, Texas Rangers and a Department of Public Safety crime scene unit were involved in the investigation.

Paul Guzman, manager of El Patio Restaurant, knew Fondren since 1972, when his family moved to Port Lavaca from San Antonio. Guzman established a friendship with Fondren, who was a regular patron of the family-owned El Patio.

He said Fondren would come in every morning and have coffee with Mollnar.

"One thing about them, they don't have a lot of money, but they seemed happy," Guzman said about Fondren and Mollnar.

Mollnar had breakfast at El Patio the morning Fondren's body was found. Guzman first learned of Fondren's death through Mollnar.

"He was just as confused as I was that someone had murdered him," Guzman said. "It's strange to me that something like that would happen to Carrol. He was such a nice guy."

Mollnar first met Fondren 40 years ago through their work with the Pentecostal Church.

"He helped people," Mollnar said. "He gave people rides. He was my Christian friend."

He said Fondren would take Arredondo and his wife Laura to church. Fondren attended Six Mile Assembly of God, Mollnar said.

Mollnar became concerned that Fondren was running with the wrong circles. Fondren believed he was following Jesus's way by "hanging out with sinners," Mollnar said.

Michael Boatwright, who owned the trailer the Arredondos rented, said he and Fondren, who would collect for rent and utilities, considered evicting them.

Boatwright said David Arredondo would often call to ask for his money back after having paid rent.

At 2 p.m. on the day before Fondren was found dead, he said Fondren collected their $250 monthly rent payment. Boatwright said Arredondo called at 5:30 p.m. to ask for his money back. Fondren refused to give it to them, he said.

Boatwright said he later received a call from Arredondo apologizing for requesting his money back and then asked to borrow $10 from him.

"I had told Carrol, 'Anytime you want them out, just let me know,'" Boatwright said. "He decided to let them go one more month. We both knew that we were going to run them out of there shortly. Unfortunately, we just pushed it one month too many."

David Arredondo is being held on $500,000 bail in Calhoun County Jail. Laura Arredondo, also in Calhoun County Jail, has yet to be arraigned.

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