Lucas Calvert, sister to be reunited with stepdad

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - The 4-year-old boy and his 5-year-old sister caught up in the Halloween shooting death of their mother will be re-united with their stepfather Thursday.

Judge Carole Clark of the 321st District Court ordered that the Lucas Calvert and his sister's stepfather would hold temporary managing conservatorship. A spokesman for Child Protective Services (CPS) said with no criminal history and the children asking for him, they believe he is the best option for the children, adding that he is planning to legally adopt both children.

Police arrested Lucas' biological father, James Calvert, 41, late Wednesday night in West Monroe, LA. He is behind held in West Monroe, LA, on charges of fugitive from justice. Once he is extradited to Texas, he faces a capital murder charge for the killing of his ex-wife - the children's mother - Jelena Radovanovic Sriraman, 30.

According to investigators, Calvert shot and killed Sriraman shortly after noon on Wednesday in the 3300 block of Bain Place. He then is accused of kidnapping Lucas. Sriraman is Calvert's third wife. They were married in 2004 and divorced in 2009.

The shooting and subsequent Amber Alert issued to help find Lucas led to a day-long search for the suspect and his son. Less than 12 hours later, an officer saw the suspect vehicle on Interstate 20 in West Monroe, LA, according to police.

According to a police affidavit, the driver of the suspect vehicle made an abrupt turn and crossed over the solid white line and onto the shoulder of the exit ramp. According to the affidavit, the officer attempted to make a traffic stop, but the driver would not stop.

Following a short chase, the officer identified the driver as Calvert and made the arrest. Officers transported him to West Monroe Correctional Center, where he was held until Tyler Police and FBI agents arrived to interview him.

West Monroe police say Calvert had guns in his lap and the backseat of the car, where Lucas was unharmed in a car seat.

During the arrest, West Monroe Police said Calvert sat silently in his car with his hands on the steering wheel until officers broke through a window. When they pulled him out of the car, officers said he didn't fight and he remained silent. However, once in a holding cell, Maj. Jeff Terrell said he ripped bars off the window and began hitting himself with them.

When questioned by police, Terrell said Calvert began making threats.

"[He] said he was going to go out in a blaze of glory or something to that effect," Terrell said. "And he did make a statement to officers that if given the chance he was going to try to escape or shoot somebody or kill himself."

DPS, Texas Rangers, the FBI and U.S. Marshals were all involved in the search. The investigation is still ongoing at this time. It is unknown when Calvert will be extradited back to Texas.

Martin says the district attorney's office is working with Louisiana courts to quickly bring Calvert back to East Texas. Maj. Jeffrey Terrell said Thursday the West Monroe, LA, Police Department has only charged Calvert as a fugitive from justice to help speed up the extradition process.

Calvert can either waive extradition and return to East Texas voluntarily, or the Smith County District Attorney's Office will obtain a governor's warrant to force him to return.

According to files at the Smith County Records Division, in 2008 Judge Clark approved a restraining order against Calvert to protect Sriraman at the time of their divorce. He violated it in 2010, and Judge Rodgers issued another restraining order for him to stay 100 ft. from Sriraman.

According to the Smith County Sheriff's Office, Calvert has been booked into the county jail on three charges of violating a protective order since 2009. He was also charged in 1999 with aggravated assault/family violence.

In May 1999, Calvert was charged with aggravated assault/family violence. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years probation.

In September 2009, he was charged with violation of a protective order restricting him from seeing Jelena, and three months later, in December 2009, was charged with violating his bond conditions.

According to files at the Smith County Records Division, Judge Rogers signed a new document ordering Calvert to not communicate in any manner directly nor indirectly nor go within 100 feet of the person, residence, place of business, school, child care facility, or any other place that Jelena may be located. This condition was inclusive of family member (or friend) contacting the above on behalf of the Defendant or for any other reason. He was also to stay at least 100 feet away from Jelena.

In May of 2010 he violated that protective order.

In a previous marriage in 1999, he was arrested and charged with aggravated assault family violence, according to files at the Smith County Records Division.

According to Larry Craig, pastor of Southern Oaks Baptist Church, which owns the home where the shooting occurred, the church was letting Sriraman stay in a mission house while she was going back to school an rearranged some things in her life, like getting remarried and becoming a U.S. citizen.

Craig says he only met Calvert once and did not know much about but, but Craig added that the two had recently undergone a child custody hearing as she prepared to move to Houston. Craig said Calvert always seemed to be determined to be involved in his children's lives.

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