Updated January 20, 2016 at 7:55 am:

On Jan 13, 2016 , Dallas police and Dallas Fire Rescue responded to a welfare check at 9944 Walnut St #1026 in which the victim Georgia Scruggs was found deceased. There were no witnesses at the location when officers responded. Detectives learned that the victim shared the apartment with her nephew; Ernest William Scruggs Jr. W/M 30  Detectives later discovered that the nephew was also a suspect in an arson case where he attempted to set fire to the victim’s apartment. Ernest Scruggs was apprehended in Garland on an Arson warrant. He was transported to The Dallas Police Homicide Unit where he gave a voluntary statement detailing his involvement in the murder of the victim Georgia Scruggs.  Arrestee Ernest Scruggs is in the Dallas County Jail charged with Capital Murder and Arson on $1,000,000 bond.

Please see the attached arrest affidavit.

Updated Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 11 am:

The homicide victim at 9944 Walnut Street has been identified as Georgia Scruggs W/F 58.  Coworkers became concerned for her well-being after she did not show up for work and went to check on her. The investigation is ongoing. 

Original Post:

On January 13, 2016, at approximately 12:15 p.m., Dallas Police Officers responded to a 911 call for a health and welfare check  at 9944 Walnut Street at the Walnut Bend Apartments. Upon the officers arrival, they found the victim, described a White female in her 50’s, deceased from homicidal violence. The Department is withholding the victim’s identity until the next of kin has been notified. 

We will release additional information as it becomes available. Anyone with information related to this crime is asked to call the Crimes Against Persons Division at (214) 671-3584.