In the quiet early hours of Wednesday on December 17, neighbors on Harristown Drive were startled awake by police lights and sirens — and by a tragedy that has shaken a close-knit corner of Southeast Houston. Officers responding to a 2:30 a.m. call discovered 71-year-old Alta Green Veasley inside her home, suffering from multiple stab wounds. Despite her brave attempt to tell them what happened, she died from her injuries shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital.
When first responders arrived at the home on 11919 Harristown Drive, they found Veasley conscious but gravely hurt, and she pointed to the person responsible — her own son. Detectives later confirmed that her 34-year-old son, Gerren Miles Crosson, was present in the residence and was taken into custody at the scene without incident.
Court filings and police reports paint a grim picture: Veasley suffered six stab wounds, including to her heart and head, according to law enforcement sources. Paramedics worked frantically to save her life, but she succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Crosson, who lives in the area, was later charged with murder after detectives consulted with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Bond was set at $750,000, and he remains jailed pending his next court date, though details about his motive are still unclear.
In a startling twist that emerged in court records, Crosson allegedly told officers “he felt like it was something he needed to do,” an admission that has left family members, friends and neighbors reeling. Authorities have not released further information about any underlying reasons or prior warnings that could have foreshadowed the deadly incident.
People who knew Veasley describe her as a warm presence in her community, a loving mother whose life ended far too soon in the place she felt safest. The Houston Police Department continues to investigate, urging anyone with additional information to come forward as they work to piece together the full story behind this devastating loss.
The tragedy has once again highlighted the silent struggle many families face behind closed doors — and the unpredictable toll of domestic violence even in neighborhoods where most mornings begin quietly. Authorities say more details may be released as the investigation progresses.
