Conroe death now homicide, 2 arrested
Dustin Ryan Dugas's death, initially an accidental drowning, is now a homicide after autopsy showed blunt force trauma. Justin Hall & Jose Ramirez Jr.
CONROE — The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has reclassified the death of a 39-year-old local man as a homicide, following an investigation that moved from a suspected accidental drowning to a criminal inquiry involving two arrests.
Dustin Ryan Dugas was found deceased on the evening of Sunday, May 26, 2024. Emergency responders were called to a pond in the 18000 block of Canyon Pass, near Conroe, at approximately 8:40 p.m. following reports of a body in the water. For more than a week, investigators treated the scene as an accidental drowning.
The trajectory of the investigation shifted on Wednesday, June 5, when detectives received the final autopsy report from the Montgomery County Forensic Center. The medical examiner’s findings revealed that Dugas had sustained significant blunt force trauma prior to entering the water, confirming that his death was not an accident.
Within 24 hours of receiving the autopsy results, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit moved to make arrests. On Thursday, June 6, authorities took 37-year-old Justin Michael Hall and 30-year-old Jose Pablo Ramirez Jr., both of Conroe, into custody. Both men have been formally charged with murder in connection with the case.
Preliminary findings suggest that Dugas was targeted by multiple assailants. Investigators currently believe the deadly altercation was sparked by drug-related tensions.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has not yet disclosed the specific nature of the relationship between the victim and the suspects, nor have they indicated whether additional arrests are pending. As of Friday, both Hall and Ramirez remain in the Montgomery County Jail. Records indicate that bond settings for the defendants are currently being processed through the 9th District Court.
This case marks a significant violent crime for the Conroe area in recent weeks. The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information regarding the circumstances leading up to Dugas’s death to contact the Major Crimes Unit at 936-760-5800. Residents who wish to remain anonymous can provide information through the Multi-County Crime Stoppers website at https://www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org/ or by calling 1-800-392-STOP.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Further details will be provided as they become available through the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office official portal at https://www.mctxsheriff.org/.