Devan Meeks, a suspect in the murder of a Chambers County man, was indicted for unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Meeks, 19, of Sabine Pass, was indicted by a Jefferson County Grand Jury for allegedly taking a relative’s vehicle.

A manhunt began earlier this month for Meeks and Melina Perry, 16, his girlfriend. At that time law enforcement worried that Perry might have been forced by Meeks to leave her home. Later her status was changed from missing/endangered to runaway. The couple were located in Muskogee, Okla.

Meeks is considered a suspect in the July 6 homicide of David Davis, 43, of Winnie. Perry was living with Davis who hoped to help the girl after her father, Davis’ close friend, was killed in a car crash. Perry’s grandmother and mother tried to raise the rebellious child, Sheriff Joe LaRive said in a previous interview. Davis also tried to help Meeks, but the youth “couldn’t keep a job” and faced drug charges out of Chambers County. Davis then decided to stop Meeks from “hanging around the house,” he said.

The Winnie man’s body was not discovered until several hours after his death. About 7:19 a.m. Sunday, July 6, Chambers County Deputies, along with the Winnie Stowell Fire Department were dispatched to a house fire at 1329 Rose St. in Winnie. A newspaper delivery person noticed smoke coming from the residence and attempted to make contact with the resident, at which time the lifeless body of Davis was found just inside the front door.

Chambers County Justice of the Peace Yale Devillier said preliminary autopsy reports show Davis died from a stab wound to the chest puncturing his aorta with hemopericardium. Davis had multiple stab wounds with at least three to the chest area, two to the back, lacerations to the neck, head and other areas.