Incident at 2311 Grant Street

April 3, 2007 -- Houston police have determined a suspect who fatally stabbed a man at 2311 Grant Street about 6:30 p.m. on March 29 died hours later in a train-pedestrian accident.

The victim, Robert Franklin Utterback, 57, was found in his burning residence and transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he was pronounced dead the following morning. He had suffered multiple stab wounds to the lower torso.

The suspect, identified as Clifford David Gaylord (w/m, DOB 10-4-50), was pronounced dead at Ben Taub General Hospital from injuries he received after being struck by a train in the 100 block of Heights Boulevard.

HPD Homicide Division Officer L. Benavidez reported:

About 6:25 p.m. on March 29, a witness saw smoke coming from 2311 Grant and then saw suspect Gaylord exit the front door, stand outside the door, then look around and close the door behind him. Gaylord was then seen jogging to the 2300 block of Montrose and then to Jackson Street, while the building on Grant continued to burn. The witness notified neighbors about the fire and those neighbors called the Houston Fire Department. Firefighters discovered Mr. Utterback’s body in the burning structure and paramedics transported him to the hospital.

About 1 a.m. on March 30, Houston police received a call about an accident involving a train and an unknown male pedestrian at 100 Heights Blvd. The pedestrian was transported to the hospital where he later died. In the pedestrian's possession was a letter indicating his role in the death of Utterback. The Harris County Medical Examiner’s office identified the pedestrian as Clifford Gaylord.

JFC/GO 4-3-07
Inc #045633607

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.