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Handgun may be connected to Texas murder By SARAH LEMON A handgun that police found in the Medford bedroom of a pair of Texas fugitives may be connected to a murder, police said. Medford police found the weapon while searching the Oakdale Avenue home where Joshua James Barlow, 27, and Stephanie Ann Martin (a.k.a. Welch), 28, were arrested Aug. 25 on Texas arrest warrants charging them with murder. Bowie County investigators said Barlow may have used the gun when he allegedly shot William Franklin Norris in Texarkana, Texas, Aug. 13. Interviews with the suspects and other sources yielded conflicting reports on what type of gun was used in the crime, said Bowie County investigator George Huggins Jr. But police are not ruling out the possibility that the weapon seized in Medford may be connected to the case, he said. Charges have not been filed against any Medford residents, police said. But Medford police will wait until all reports are available to determine if anyone in town assisted Barlow and Martin while knowing the two were wanted for a crime. "At this point we have not totally closed that matter," said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. But Bowie County authorities said they don't plan to call anyone who came into contact with Barlow and Martin in Medford to testify. Medford police, however, will most likely be called to testify in the trial, Huggins said. Detective Terry Newell coordinated Medford's investigation and assisted Bowie County investigators, Moran said. Police allege that Barlow robbed and shot Norris, whose body was found Aug. 14 about 80 yards inside the Texas state line near the Red River in Bowie County. Both Barlow and Martin were charged with first-degree murder. Police have not discussed Martin's specific role in the killing, saying only that she was present. Martin was Norris' girlfriend, police said, adding that she also was involved with Barlow at the time. Martin and Norris arrived back in Texas on Sept. 2. They are jailed on $500,000 bond each. No trial date has been set. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.