2 suspects accused of injecting Brown County woman with meth, beating, stabbing, strangling her

BROWN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Two suspects accused of killing a woman by injecting her with meth, beating, stabbing, and strangling her in Brown County have been charged with Capital Murder.

Charles Harlan and Clarissa Campos were both indicted for Capital Murder in connection to the death of Melanie Pancake, who was found buried in a shallow grave in Zephyr in June just weeks after she was reported missing. 

Court documents state both Harlan and Campos did, “intentionally cause the death of . . . Melanie Pancake by injecting methamphetamine into [her], or by blunt force, or by stabbing her with a knife, or by strangulation, or by a means unknown.”

Pancake was killed, according to the documents, on April 13, 2025. 

The documents also state Harlan and Campos were attempting to rob Pancake at the time of the murder and that they were in Possession of a Controlled Substance or Delivering a Controlled Substance when they injected her with methamphetamine. 

Harlan is also charged with Tampering with Evidence (Human Corpse) in connection to Pancake’s death. He remains held in the Brown County Jail on bonds totaling more than 0,000.

Court documents related to that cause say Harlan used a barrel to transport Pancake’s body after death.

Campos was arrested in Gatesville, Texas, Friday and remains held in the Coryell County Jail. 

No further information is available at this time.