Wharton County begins the new year with nine pending murder cases, with families of five victims awaiting justice. Newly sworn-in District Attorney Mark Racer faces a busy year, including decisions on high-profile cases like Daveon Marquis Allen, sentenced to life for a Thanksgiving robbery-turned-murder. Allen seeks a retrial, claiming inadequate representation. Nathaniel Ford Allen, charged in the same case, remains jailed on a $1 million bond. Meanwhile, Angel Castro awaits trial for the death of 19-month-old Roselynn Coates. Racer aims to resolve all murder cases by year’s end.