Upshur County jury sentences man to life in prison for 2018 murder of Longview woman

GILMER, Texas (KLTV) - An Arlington man will spend life in prison after being convicted of capital murder on Thursday.

Trial proceedings wrapped up on Thursday and the jury returned a guilty verdict for Carlton Grant, accused in the 2018 murder of Rachel Rhoads, of Longview.

According to the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office, Grant killed Rhoads, who was 24, the day he met her, March 29, 2018, at a mutual friend’s home, where Rachel lived. Grant asked her to give him and his girlfriend, Lindsey McFadden, a ride in her car. She agreed and, in the words of the district attorney, “it cost her her life.”

Grant got into the back seat of Rhoads’ car, and reached around her neck with a “choking device” he had made out of wire. He began strangling her, then pulled her into the back seat, where he further choked her and beat her until she died, the district attorney said.

He then drove her car and went to buy drugs from friends before he and his girlfriend left town to go to Dallas.

The next day, Grant drove Rhoads to Upshur County, outside of Diana, dumped her body in a clearing and set her on fire. She was found on April 1, 2018, by a person riding his 4WD up the right of way in a field off of FM 726 near Highway 154. He reported it to authorities, and after several days a positive identification was made.

Grant and McFadden were later found with Rhoads’ vehicle in Bedford. They were arrested on April 5.

Grant was indicted for capital murder alongside Lindsey McFadden, who has yet to go on trial.

Grant was given a life sentence in prison without the possibility of parole since the prosecution did not pursue the death penalty.

Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd discusses Thursday's guilty verdict in the case of Carlton Grant, who will spend the rest of his life in prison.

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