Published Thursday, September 02, 2010 10:52 AM

Pallbearer for slain Galveston man charged in death

Associated Press

GALVESTON, Texas -- A slain Galveston man's best friend who was a pallbearer at his funeral has been charged in the 2007 apparent drug-related killing.

Eric Calvert Kirby was in the Galveston County Jail on Thursday on a murder charge. Bond was $250,000 for Kirby, who was arrested Wednesday afternoon in the closet of his mother's home. Electronic jail records had no listing for an attorney for Kirby.

Galveston police say 45-year-old Tracey Dulaney Rawls was discovered strangled after a motorist ran over the body.

Detective Fed Paige says Rawls had been dealing drugs.

A police fugitive photo of Kirby had appeared Wednesday morning in The Galveston County Daily News.

Marie Pines of Galveston told the Houston Chronicle that she's "overwhelmed" to think her son's best friend is charged with the death.

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