Trial Begins in Milam County for 2021 Murder of Christi Coufal

CAMERON, TX — Nearly five years after the tragic discovery of a local mother’s body in the San Gabriel River, testimony officially began Tuesday morning in the 20th Judicial District Court for the murder trial of 30-year-old Colton Coufal.

Jury selection was completed on Monday, August 3, setting the stage for opening statements and initial prosecution witnesses on Tuesday before District Judge John Youngblood at the Milam County Courthouse in Cameron.

A Community Tragedy Unfolds

The case traces back to December 2021, when Christi Warrick Coufal, a resident of Cameron, was reported missing by family members. The search ended in tragedy when law enforcement officers located her body submerged in the San Gabriel River near Apache Pass, a well-known local landmark in rural Milam County.

Colton Coufal, Christi's son, was quickly identified as a primary suspect by investigators. He was taken into custody shortly after the discovery and has remained held in the Milam County Jail.

Following a multi-agency investigation conducted jointly by the Milam County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers, a Milam County Grand Jury returned a true bill of indictment in June 2023, formally charging Colton Coufal with first-degree murder.

Prosecution and Trial Details

Milam County District Attorney Brian Price is leading the prosecution on behalf of the State of Texas. On Tuesday morning, Price called the state's first witness to the stand following brief opening remarks outlining the prosecution's timeline of events surrounding Christi Coufal’s disappearance and death.

If convicted of first-degree murder, Colton Coufal faces a potential sentence ranging from 5 to 99 years, or life imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Proceedings are scheduled to continue throughout the week at the Milam County Courthouse.

The Cameron Community Voice will continue to monitor courtroom testimony and provide updates.