The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Joseph Edward Roberts Jr., 21, of Orange, was indicted by an Orange County grand jury this week on capital murder charges in the April beating death of longtime Orange businessman Michael Lee “Mickey” McNamara.

Injured in the attack was Joyce Kirkland Cross, an employee of McNamara Insurance on Green Avenue. This charge relates only to McNamara.

After an interview with Roberts, investigators theorized that Roberts went to the business and demanded money from Cross. He reportedly attacked her with a bat, and as he was leaving

McNamara returned from an errand and the two had a brief conversation. Roberts allegedly followed McNamara inside the building and struck him in the head with the bat.

Involved in the investigation were members of the Orange Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Vidor Police Department, West Orange Police Department and the FBI.