Officials in Kaufman County are meeting to discuss potential replacements for slain District Attorney Mike McLelland.
The bodies of both McLelland and his wife Cynthia were found in their home Saturday. Both were dead from apparent gunshot wounds. Their bodies were found nearly two months to the day after Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was gunned down while walking to work.
NBC 5 has learned that two attorneys have volunteered to fill McLelland's position in the interim and that two others have been contacted by the county as potential replacements.
The list of candidates will be sent to Gov. Rick Perry, who will make the appointment. While the governor said Monday that he has no personal knowledge of the investigation, he advised everyone, especially public officials, to be extra cautious.
Until that time, Assistant District Attorney Brandi Fernandez is acting district attorney for Kaufman County.
The county released the following statement Monday afternoon:
"After the unfortunate events of this weekend, the position of interim District Attorney will be filled by Brandi Fernandez, First Assistant District Attorney, per the Texas Government Code, for a period of 21 days or until the Governor of the State of Texas appoints a successor for Mr. McLelland. During this time frame, the office will continue moving forward to serve the community while working through these tragic events which have affected the lives and families of this office. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Mike and Cynthia McLelland. They will be deeply missed."
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To date, police have remained tight-lipped about the investigation into the McLelland murders and have not revealed any connection to the Hasse slaying last January. Additionally, police have not released the names of anyone suspected in any of the deaths.
NBC 5's Randy McIlwain contributed to this report.
