Homicide Investigation - Report #2025-02650175
Published on September 24, 2025
By Arlington Police Department
The Arlington Police Department has made an arrest in connection to the murder of 53-year-old Mary Spears, who was stabbed at her home in the 1000 block of Shortleaf Pine Drive on September 22, 2025.
Following a thorough investigation, Homicide Detectives obtained a warrant for the arrest of 55-year-old Frederick Spears on one count of Murder. On September 23, 2025, APD officers, Grand Prairie PD officers, and members of the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force located Mr. Spears in the 1600 block of N. Davis Drive. As they approached him, Mr. Spears retrieved a knife and began stabbing himself. The officers gave Mr. Spears multiple commands to drop the knife, but he would not comply. After officers deployed tasers, less lethal rounds, and a GPPD K9, Mr. Spears finally dropped the knife and was taken into custody. He was transported to an area hospital where he is currently recovering from his injuries. No officers were injured during the apprehension.
Through the course of their investigation, detectives learned Mr. Spears and Ms. Spears had been married for many years, but were estranged. They also learned that Ms. Spears had just recently allowed Mr. Spears to stay at her home.
On September 17, 2025, APD officers were dispatched to Ms. Spears’ home in response to a domestic disturbance report. Mr. Spears got into a verbal argument with another family member, during which he reportedly grabbed two kitchen knives and used them to threaten the family member. Officers arrested Mr. Spears and booked him into the Arlington City Jail on one count of Aggravated Assault Family Violence. On September 18, 2025, Mr. Spears posted bond and was released from custody.
The morning of the murder, Mr. Spears sent a concerning text message to one of Ms. Spears’ family members. That family member went looking for her and found her unresponsive in the backyard with multiple stab wounds. Detectives discovered Mr. Spears also sent text messages to Ms. Spears’ phone and to others that implicated him in her death.
During the investigation, the department learned that immediately after bonding out of the Arlington City Jail on September 18, Mr. Spears went to the main lobby of the Ott Cribbs Public Safety Center and asked the officer at the front desk for a ride back to Ms. Spears’ home so he could retrieve his vehicle. The officer arranged for another APD officer to take him there. Upon arriving at the home, Mr. Spears got into a verbal argument with family members. The officer who drove Mr. Spears ultimately instructed him to leave the location and he complied.
As a condition of his bond, an emergency protective order was issued barring Mr. Spears from returning to Ms. Spears’ home or having contact with her and other family members. The department acknowledges that the officers should not have arranged transportation back to the home. Additionally, the department is conducting a comprehensive administrative review to determine whether changes to policy and / or procedures are necessary to ensure this does not happen again.
ORIGINAL RELEASE
The Arlington Police Department is investigating a stabbing incident that resulted in the death of a 53-year-old woman.
On September 22, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m., officers responded to a home in the 1000 block of Shortleaf Pine Drive after a family member of the victim reported finding her unresponsive and bleeding in the backyard. The woman had multiple apparent stab wounds. She was transported to an area hospital where she was later pronounced deceased from her injuries.
Based on their preliminary investigation, detectives do not believe this was a random attack and that the woman likely knew her killer.
At this time, no arrests have been made. Detectives are currently following up on leads and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call Detective Robinson at (817) 459-5935. Tipsters can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at (817) 469-8477.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the deceased.