Well, looks like I went off half-cocked.*

HOUSTON — The acrid aroma billowing from the two barbecue grills on the balcony of Apartment 224 didn’t smell like barbecue. And the black smoke rising from the leaping flames didn’t look like a normal cookout.

What, neighbors at the Red Oak Place apartments wondered, was going on in the second floor apartment where 27-year-old Timothy Wayne Shepherd lived? What was he burning at all hours, for at least two days?

The answer turned their stomachs.

I’ll say.

Among the 100 items taken as evidence from Shepherd’s apartment were some 30 pieces of bone, several swabs of DNA samples, hair and several “charred items,” according to the affidavit.

Also taken as evidence were a garbage disposal, a sink plunger, a bath knob, a mop, two hammers, a vacuum cleaner, an empty ammonia bottle, cans of white paint and painting materials.

Shepherd’s attorney, Chip Lewis, said Thursday that he had not seen the inventory of what evidence was taken from Shepherd’s home during the search Monday.

When asked whether Shepherd ate any of Stewart’s remains, he said, “I have absolutely no reason to believe that.”

Well, Sheriff Thomas certainly has my apologies for jumping the gun.

*It’s pretty late tonight. Maybe that explains the horrible series of puns that occurred to me following that. Fortunately, I thought better of them.