By Ashley Sanders

The News staff writer

BEAUMONT — A photograph of a bound, bloody and lifeless woman curved into the fetal position was shown to jurors Tuesday as testimony in the trial of Corey Joseph Schuff began in Judge John Stevens’ courtroom.

Schuff, 30, is accused of stabbing to death his former girlfriend, 28-year-old Tonia Lynn Porras, in her LaBelle apartment on Nov. 5, 2005.

The crime scene photo presented to jurors by Jefferson County prosecutor Ramon Rodriguez was intended to show a crime of passion.

Porras was found in her garage apartment bedroom on Hillibrant Acres Road by her father. Her feet were bound with duct tape and an electrical cord was wrapped around her throat. The young woman had been stabbed numerous times. The photo also showed a disheveled bed and Porras, who was lying on the floor, was positioned facing a large, orange and white clown fish stuffed animal — a toy that most likely belonged to her then 7-year-old son with whom she shared the one-bedroom apartment.

Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department Det. Darrell Clayton said his division initially questioned “many, many suspects,” before finally deciding Schuff killed Porras while friend Wesley Joel Smith, 34, looked on.



Read more in Wednesday’s edition of The News.