Tarrant County, Texas — Law enforcement in Tarrant County is currently engaged in an intensive search for Lisa Monique Mitchell, 35, who is wanted in connection with a murder investigation. Mitchell recently removed a court-ordered electronic monitoring device, making her status as an alleged murder suspect an immediate public safety concern for authorities.
The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office has issued a public appeal for information on Mitchell’s whereabouts. Deputies warn the public not to approach her, citing the serious nature of the charges she faces.
How We Got Here
Lisa Monique Mitchell’s criminal history includes prior charges for possession of a controlled substance, according to Tarrant County court records. These previous legal entanglements placed her under a regimen of community supervision, a common practice in the criminal justice system to monitor individuals released from custody or awaiting trial.
As a condition of this supervision, Mitchell was equipped with an electronic tagging device, specifically a GPS ankle bracelet. This form of electronic monitoring is designed to track an individual’s location, ensuring compliance with court mandates and serving as a deterrent against flight or further criminal activity.
The murder charge against Mitchell stems from the death of 45-year-old Dustin Mowdy. Court documents filed in Tarrant County allege that in March 2025, Mitchell knowingly delivered the controlled substance fentanyl to Mowdy. Fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, is frequently implicated in overdose deaths due to its extreme lethality, even in small doses. Authorities assert that Mowdy’s death was a direct consequence of this alleged fentanyl delivery, leading to the murder charge now filed against Mitchell.
What Changed
The critical development in Mitchell’s case occurred recently when she removed her GPS ankle bracelet. This act of tampering with the electronic monitoring device immediately triggered an alert to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, signifying her breach of court-ordered conditions and her subsequent evasion of law enforcement.
Upon confirming the removal of the ankle monitor, authorities escalated their efforts to locate Mitchell. The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office described Mitchell as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing approximately 230 pounds, with brown hair. While her last known location was in Fort Worth, investigators caution that she possesses the resources and connections necessary to leave the local area, potentially complicating the ongoing offender tracking efforts.
The removal of an electronic monitoring device by an individual facing serious charges, particularly murder, underscores the inherent challenges in community supervision programs. While such devices are crucial tools for managing populations outside of incarceration, their effectiveness relies on compliance and the swift response of law enforcement when that compliance fails.
What Comes Next
The immediate priority for the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office is the apprehension of Mitchell. The search is active, involving various law enforcement channels dedicated to locating individuals who have absconded from electronic monitoring. Her status as a murder suspect amplifies the urgency of this manhunt, particularly given the inherent risks associated with fentanyl-related offenses.
Authorities urge anyone who encounters Lisa Monique Mitchell or possesses information regarding her whereabouts to contact 911 immediately. Anonymous tips can also be provided through Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County. The effective functioning of GPS ankle bracelet programs, and indeed all forms of electronic monitoring, depends on both technological reliability and vigilant community cooperation in instances where individuals attempt to evade supervision.
The outcome of this manhunt will not only determine Mitchell’s fate but also test the limits of offender tracking systems designed to maintain public safety while individuals await trial or complete community-based sentences.
Source: Tarrant County deputies search for woman wanted for murder after removing ankle monitor
