Frederick Earl Cremean

FREDERICK EARL ‘FREDDIE’ CREMEAN, 29, and his wife Karen Darlene Covin Cremean, 27, were killed 09/19/83 in their Fort Worth, Texas residence.¹

A graduate of Brewer High School, Freddie was a partner with his brother in Texas Tile Roofing, which he worked on average 6 days a week.² He was called ‘Pillsbury’ by friends and family because of his chubby physique and ability to make people laugh.³

Neighbors recall the couple were friendly, turned down offers to have ‘drinks,’ never partied or had “shady” people at their home during their three years in the neighborhood.²

A double funeral was held at Normandale Baptist Church. Freddie is interred at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Worth.⁴ He was survived by parents Kenneth Cremean and Betty Lou DeVasher, and siblings Larry Cremean and Sherry Nowlin. Sadly, his parents passed away without seeing his killer(s) brought to justice.^{5 6}

CRIME SCENE

When Karen failed to show up to work at 9am her coworker, Elaine Knight, became concerned and stopped by the couple’s home at 4825 Mayfair in Ridglea.  She received no response after knocking on the door several minutes, so she looked through the living room window.⁷

Knight observed Karen slumped over between a chair and sofa, and immediately tried to force open the front door. Unsuccessful, she frantically called Tim Bean, the Kmart store manager.

He soon arrived with Tim Jetton, the automotive manager, to gain entry into the home. They found the rear door open, and discovered the couple unresponsive shortly after 10am. Frederick was found near the front door⁸

Officers arrived around 11am, in response to an emergency call by the coworkers.The home wasn’t ransacked, and there was no signs of forced entry. Police do not believe robbery was a motive as both guns and cash were left untouched.²

An autopsy, conducted by the Tarrant County medical examiner, determined Frederick had been shot four times in the head and chest, close range, by either a shotgun or high-powered rifle. He’d been dead about 12 hours.

Close to 100 people were interviewed, but no clear suspect has emerged.

THEORIES & SUSPICIONS

Investigators theorized the double-homicide was drug-related. In processing the crime scene nearly $2k in cash, a set of scales, drug paraphernalia, as well as a small amount of cocaine was found in the home.

Larry Cremean, Freddie’s brother, acknowledges he dabbled in marijuana and speed, but insists he wasn’t a heavy user or seller. He believes Frederick was “…involved in a drug transaction far outside of his knowledge and comfort zone.”⁹

Cathy Powell, Karen’s sister, believes the couple were living in fear. She told media they’d purchased burial plots and caskets, and was careful to carry insurance for major purchases that would pay for the item in the event one of them died.

HAVE INFORMATION?

Fort Worth Police Department is working to solve the Frederick ‘Freddie’ Cremean case and bring his killer(s) to justice.  If you have information about this crime, please call (817) 392-4330.

The Covin and Cremean families are offering a $10k reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment.⁹

Submit corrections/updates here.

Sources:

1. Fort Worth Police Department: 1980-1989 Cold Cases, accessed 03/10/22. [↩]
2. Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Police mum about couple’s killing, page 24C, published 09/21/83. [↩][↩][↩]
3. Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Slayings, page A6, published 06/23/13. [↩]
4. Find A Grave: Frederick Earl Cremean, accessed 03/12/22. [↩]
5. Legacy Obituary: Betty Lou DeVasher, accessed 03/12/22. [↩]
6. Find A Grave: Kenneth Lawrence Cremean, accessed 03/12/22. [↩]
7. Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Pair found slain in Ridglea home, page 27A, evening edition, published 09/19/83. [↩]
8. Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Pair found slain in Ridglea, page 28A, evening edition, published 09/19/83. [↩]
9. Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Slayings, page 6AA, published 07/03/13. [↩][↩]