FANNIN COUNTY, TX - Thomas L. Taunton, the man accused of killing three family members near Leonard, is now in the Fannin County Jail.

Taunton signed a waiver of extradition earlier Monday. Sheriff Donnie Foster and Chief Deputy James Woods drove to Mansfield, Louisiana to pick up Taunton and bring him back to Fannin County Jail where he is facing charges of capital murder for the shooting deaths of 73-year-old Harold Harpst, his 79-year-old wife, Sue, and her daughter, 48-year-old Regina Taunton. Their bodies were found inside a barn off Highway 11 near Sherman on Saturday. A Justice of the Peace identified the bodies as the missing Leonard family Monday morning.

Investigators are still looking for the Harpsts' vehicle. The vehicle is a Silver 2007 Dodge Caravan with Texas handicap license plate 8CPYH. The van is equipped with a wheelchair lift on the driver’s side and a rack for carrying a wheelchair is on the rear of the van.
Anyone that may have seen the van should contact Fannin County Sheriff’s Office at (903)583-2143, or contact their local law enforcement agency.