ALVARADO, Texas — A North Texas community is grieving the loss of 33-year-old Chelsea Spillers, a beloved science teacher at Alvarado High School, who police say was murdered by her husband just two days after a domestic disturbance at their home.
According to the Alvarado Police Department, officers discovered Spillers’ body on Saturday, October 19, during a welfare check at the couple’s residence in the Alvarado area. Investigators later determined that she died from blunt force trauma, and a murder warrant was issued for her husband, Brandon Ashley. The incident has left family, students, and educators across the community heartbroken.
Authorities launched a statewide search for Ashley, who was located more than 100 miles away in Grimes County on Monday morning. The Grimes County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received calls on Sunday about a shirtless man behaving erratically and knocking on doors in a rural area, asking neighbors for a shirt. When approached by deputies, Ashley appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis and made unusual statements about avoiding highways because of police presence. A revolver was later found nearby, and he was taken into custody without further incident.
Officials confirmed that Ashley had been arrested just two days earlier, on Thursday night, after police responded to a domestic disturbance at the couple’s home. He was booked into the Johnson County Jail and released the following day after posting bond. The deadly attack occurred less than 48 hours later. Police have not disclosed details about what led to the initial disturbance or how the situation escalated into violence.
The tragedy has deeply affected the Alvarado Independent School District, where Spillers was known for her dedication to teaching biology and chemistry and for the care she showed her students. In a statement, the district wrote, “We were saddened to hear of the tragic passing of a beloved Alvarado High School educator, Chelsea Spillers. She was a dedicated teacher who loved her scholars and our Alvarado ISD team. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and our entire Alvarado ISD family.”
Chelsea and Brandon Ashley shared an 11-year-old son, who is now staying with relatives as the investigation continues. Brandon Ashley remains in custody at the Grimes County Jail, awaiting extradition to Johnson County to face murder charges. Authorities have not released a motive but say the case remains under active investigation.