The transfer was pending Monday for a Houston-area man authorities say has confessed to his brother’s murder in rural Brazos County.
Kyle Wischnewsky of Stafford is charged with capital murder in the death of Clifford Wischnewsky of Tomball.
Clifford Wischnewsky, 43, was found shot to death Friday morning near Kurten.
The resulting investigation led Kyle Wischnewsky’s arrest Saturday in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Investigators tracked his cell phone signal to that area and alerted police. Officers found Kyle Wischnewsky, 27, in a motel with his girlfriend.
Kyle Wischnewsky later confessed to the robbery and murder of Clifford Wischnewsky, authorities said.
According to information released Monday morning by the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office, investigators found significant evidence in Kyle Wischnewsky’s motel room, including what is thought to be the murder weapon.
Kyle Wischnewsky is awaiting transfer to Brazos County. His bond has been set at $1 million.
Meantime, authorities are also looking for Clifford Wischnewsky’s dog, Marley. Kyle Wischnewsky told investigators the schnauzer was with him in the vehicle until he released it about five miles from where Clifford Wischnewsky’s body was found.
Anyone with information on Marley’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office at (979) 361-4900.
Updated information released Monday, March 26:
Brazos County Sheriff’s Investigators are in Carlsbad, New Mexico to follow-up on the Clifford Wischnewsky homicide investigation. Investigators interviewed the suspect, Kyle Wischnewsky, at which time Kyle admitted to the robbery and murder. Investigators have found some significant evidence from the motel room and the stolen vehicle, including what is believed to be the murder weapon. With this new evidence, Sheriff’s Investigators are confident that there are no other persons involved in this crime.
During the interview with Kyle Wischnewsky he confirmed that Clifford, the victim, had brought his pet Schnauzer “Marley” on the trip to Bryan. That after he shot his brother he drove back along Highway 21, east bound from Brazos County, and approximately 5 miles from the scene he stopped along the road and let the dog out of the truck.
Clifford’s family confirms that the dog is missing and that “Marley” is wearing a collar and is Micro chipped for identification.
Brazos County Sheriff’s deputies are attempting to locate “Marley” and have notified the Madison County Sheriffs’ Office and local animal shelters on the details of the abandoned pet.
Sheriff Chris Kirk visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Original release from Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk:
Mid-day on Friday March 23rd while Sheriff’s Investigators were investigating the crime scene of the deceased unidentified white male the sheriff’s office received calls from two sources on a welfare concern for Clifford Wischnewsky. Both indicated that Wischnewsky had plans to come to the Bryan area and had been heard from.
The description provided by both reports matched the victim and one of the concerned friends drove to the crime scene and positively identified the body as that of Clifford Wischnewsky. This individual provided details of Clifford’s trip to the Bryan area to buy two Polaris All-terrain vehicles, stating: that Clifford planned to purchase each for $7,000; that Clifford’s brother, Kyle Wischnewsky had arranged the sale supposedly through a listing on Craig’s List; that Kyle had travelled with Clifford to buy the ATV’s; that they were driving in a white Ford Crew Cab pick-up truck and towing a trailer to haul the ATV’s; that Clifford had texted a lady he was to have a date with that night saying he was a few minutes out of Bryan to purchase two side by sides and that he would meet her in Woodlands, Texas and that something wasn’t right; and that Clifford always carried a weapon with him, believed to be a Sig .380.
On learning that 27 year old brother Kyle was with Clifford on the trip, Investigators became concerned that Kyle might also be a victim and conducted a search of the area surrounding the crime scene to check on the possibility that Kyle was injured or killed.
Investigators drove to Stafford, Texas to notify & interview Clifford’s next of kin. They met with Clifford’s & Kyle’s mother at her home. She stated: that Clifford had picked up Kyle in Cleveland, Texas and drove to Madisonville, Texas to pick up a 4 wheeler; that she had questioned Kyle about going to Madisonville when he had previously told her it was in Houston and the person selling the 4-wheeler was his friend; that Kyle and his girlfriend live in her home; that the girlfriend on the evening of Thursday, March 22nd took her dog, her clothing, Kyle’s clothing and left the house; that she had not heard from Kyle or his girlfriend since; that when Kyle had left the house he had taken two of her guns; that Kyle had been in trouble in Texas & Oklahoma; and that that she considered Kyle to be armed and dangerous because he said he wouldn’t go back to prison.
At approximately 12:00 midnight on March 24th a caller reported to Madison County Sheriff’s Office that there was trailer that appeared to be abandoned on side of IH-45 feeder road near Spur 104 intersection. Deputies went to the location and confirmed that trailer was the one reported stolen by the Brazos County Sheriff’s Office related to the Wischnewsky homicide. BCSO Investigators visited the location to examine for evidence and recover the trailer.
Sheriff’s Investigators requested an emergency ping order on Kyle’s cell phone as a concern for his health and well-being in that he could have been a victim in the crime. The cell search revealed that the phone had not had a signal for two hours, though the last active cell site was in Carlsbad, New Mexico.
Investigators contacted Carlsbad, New Mexico Police Department to inform them of our investigation and that there had been a active cell site on the phone of a person of interest in the case. Officers were requested to check area motels for the vehicle that was stolen in the homicide.
At approximately 1:00am, Saturday, March 24th, 2012, Texas Ranger Chris Clark who was assisting the Sheriff’s Office in the case received a call from the Carlsbad Police Department informing that the stolen vehicle was in the parking lot of a local motel. Later CPD officers confirmed that Kyle Wischnewsky was registered at the hotel and was accompanied by a female. CPD also was notified of the extensive criminal history on Kyle and an existing warrant on Kyle out of Polk County, Texas for Credit Card Fraud.
Carlsbad Police Department initiated a SWAT operation that lead to the evacuation of the Executive Inn Motel and the ultimate arrest of 27 year old Kyle Wayne Wischnewsky at 6:00am this date. Kyle put up slight resistance at the time of his arrest and had a .380 caliber handgun in his belt.
Sheriff Investigators presented probable cause statement to District Judge Travis Bryan issued an arrest warrant for Kyle Wischnewsky on the charge of Murder and set his bond at $1,000,000.
An autopsy was performed on Saturday, March 24th at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office. The preliminary results of the autopsy indicate that 43 year old Clifford E. Wischnewsky died from two gunshots to the head.
Investigators are continuing the crime scene investigation in Brazos County and will be travelling to Carlsbad, New Mexico to follow-up on the investigation.
Assisting with Brazos County Sheriff’s Investigators & Deputies with the crime scene investigation, homicide investigation and arrest of Kyle Wayne Wischnewsky were:
Texas Ranger Chris Clark- Brazos County & Texas Ranger Ron Duff – Polk County
Two members of the Bryan PD Crime Scene Investigation Unit
Bryan Fire Department for assistance of providing an ladder truck for aerial
Texas Department of Public Safety traffic direction on Highway 21
Department of Transportation for assisting with traffic control directing along Highway 21.
DPS Crime Analysis Section
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Tomball Police Department
Carlsbad Police Department