Murder Indictment Returned in January 2026 Porter Shooting

PORTER, TX -- A Montgomery County Grand Jury has returned an indictment for Murder against 55-year-old Vernon James Cradier of Magnolia. The indictment stems from a fatal shooting that occurred on January 1, 2026, at a residence on Alexander Lane in Porter.

At approximately 1:20 that morning, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies located an adult male, identified as Clarence “Tom” Modlin III, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Deputies and medical personnel immediately began lifesaving efforts; however, despite those attempts, Modlin succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division, along with Crime Scene Investigators, responded to the scene and began their investigation. Cradier remained at the scene and admitted to firing the rounds that killed Modlin.

The investigation revealed that Cradier and Modlin had been involved in an altercation that escalated into both a physical and verbal confrontation. During this encounter, Cradier- who was out on bond for an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge related to a 2025 road rage incident- produced a firearm and shot Modlin.

The 2025 road rage incident involving Cradier gained significant public attention when Sheriff Doolittle personally intervened in that road rage incident and arrested Cradier during that disturbance.

Due to the complex nature of the January 2026 shooting incident, including the circumstances leading up to the shooting, the case was presented to a Montgomery County Grand Jury for review.

On March 10, 2026, the Grand Jury returned a Murder indictment against Cradier. He was subsequently arrested on the warrant and is currently being held in the Montgomery County Jail with no bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the diligent work of our Major Crimes Detectives, Crime Scene Investigators, and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in seeking justice for the victim in this case.