Scared Monkeys Discussion Forum

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20130330-breaking-news-kaufman-county-district-attorney-mike-mclelland-wife-reportedly-found-dead-in-home.ece
Breaking news: Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, wife reportedly found dead in home
March 30, 2013

Kaufman County’s district attorney and his wife were found slain Saturday, raising fears their deaths may be part of a plot that included the slaying of an assistant district attorney in January.
Kaufman Police Chief Chris Aulbaugh and other officials confirmed the reports that Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, had been shot at their home near Forney. Their deaths follow the Jan. 31 slaying of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse.
“It is a shock,” Aulbaugh said late Saturday. “It was a shock with Mark Hasse, and now you can just imagine the double shock and until we know what happened, I really can't confirm that it's related but you always have to assume until it's proven otherwise.”
He said the Texas Rangers were helping with the investigation at the McLellands’ home in an unincorporated part of the county, but that the sheriff’s department will be leading the investigation.
“Because have to treat it as related [to the Hasse investigation], we'll be working side by side again,” Aulbaugh said.
 ::snipping2::

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/03/30/kaufman-county-da-mike-mclelland-and-wife-found-dead/
Kaufman County DA Mike McLelland And Wife Found Dead
March 30, 2013

KAUFMAN, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife were found dead inside their home.

Lt. Justin Lewis with the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Dept conformed to 1080 KRLD that both DA McLelland and his wife Cynthia were murdered.

Because of the location of the home, in an unincorporated area of Kaufman County,  the crime falls under the jurisdiction of the sheriff’s office.

Sources tell CBS 11 news that the DA was shot multiple times with what is believed to be an assault rifle while his wife was only shot once . Sources also way that there were no signs of forced entry.

Kaufman Police Department Chief Chris Aulbaugh said law enforcement officials will be looking at the latest shooting to see if it is related to the murder of Kaufman County assistant district attorney Mark Hasse.

The FBI in Dallas and Denver have been comparing the Hasse shooting to that of Tom Clements, executive director of Colorado Prisons Bureau. Clements was shot and killed as he answered the front door of his home on March 19.

 ::snipping2::

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Kaufman-County-District-Attorney-Wife-Found-Dead-in-Home-200752591.html
Kaufman County District Attorney, Wife, Found Dead in Home
March 30, 2013

Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia were found dead inside their Forney home at about 9 p.m. Saturday, police say.

Investigators with the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department confirmed the deaths to NBC 5 Saturday evening, but had little else to say in the early stages of the investigation.

Police have not said what brought them to the McLelland's home Saturday night or if they have any leads in the case, though they did say the deaths were being investigated as homicides.

Sources told NBC 5 that the McLelland's front door was kicked in and that gunshots had been fired, though police have not independently confirmed that information.

Officials are contacting all Kaufman County officials to ensure their safety as the McLelland deaths come nearly two months to the day from the slaying of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse, who was gunned down while walking to work on Jan. 31.

When speaking to the media after Hasse's murder, McLelland said Hasse was a really, really good man and that he was an excellent friend and spectacular prosecutor who wouldn't be easily replaced.  He added that Hasse was a man who was well aware of the dangers associated with being a prosecutor.
 ::snipping2::
To date, no arrests have been made in connection with Hasse's murder.

McLelland and his wife, Cynthia Woodward McLelland, have five children including two daughters and three sons.  One of their sons is a police officer with the Dallas Police Department.

(Photos and videos at links in article)

Thank You Muffy  ::bee::

How sad and scary. They haven't come out and  said it is related to DA Assistant District Attorneys death yet. But all signs point to the jail gang 211.  May  Mr. & Mrs. McLelland rest in peace. Prayers for their family. ::MonkeyAngel::

I agree Green Eyes, it's sad and scary.   ::MonkeyNoNo::  I hope there will be answers soon. 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/30/justice/texas-da-killed/index.html
Texas DA, wife killed -- 2 months after his deputy is gunned down
March 31, 2013

CNN) -- Two months ago, a Texas district attorney vowed to put away the "scum" who had killed one of his top deputies.
Now, the district attorney and his wife are dead. And authorities aren't sure whether their killings are part of a broader scheme targeting criminal justice officials.
The bodies of Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found Saturday in their home in Kaufman County, east of Dallas.
"I don't know of anyone who would want to cause him harm," Kaufman city Mayor William Fortner said. "As far as I could tell, he was doing a really good job as a district attorney."
Fortner said police are taking "extra precautions" to try to ensure no one else is targeted.
"We lost some important people, and we hope the killers are caught before any more people are lost," he said.
A law enforcement official told The Dallas Morning News that a door was apparently kicked in, and "there are shell casings everywhere."
Authorities have not identified a suspect. Nor are they sure whether the deaths are related to the killing of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse, who was killed on his way to work in January.
The county sheriff's office brought in the FBI and the Texas Rangers to help with the investigation.
 ::snipping2::
The McLellands were killed almost exactly two months after Hasse was shot to death in broad daylight outside the county courthouse on January 31.
Hasse had feared for his life and carried a gun to work, said a Dallas attorney who described herself as his longtime friend.
Colleen A. Dunbar said she spoke with Hasse on January 24. She said the prosecutor told her he began carrying a gun in and out of the county courthouse daily.
"He told me he would use a different exit every day because he was fearful for his life," Dunbar told CNN.
She said that Hasse gave no specifics on why he felt threatened -- only that he did.

http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/general/deputy-texas-district-attorney-wife-found-dead/nW77b/
Mayor: Deaths of Texas DA, wife 'not a random act'
March 31, 2013

KAUFMAN, Texas — Two months after one of his assistant prosecutors was gunned down, a north Texas district attorney and his wife were found killed in their home, authorities said.
The bodies of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found in their home Saturday, Kaufman County sheriff's Lt. Justin Lewis said. Authorities would not comment on a motive.
 ::snipping2::
Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was shot to death in a parking lot a block from his office on Jan. 31. No arrests have been made in his death
 ::snipping2::
Sam Rosander, who lives in the same unincorporated area of Kaufman County as the McLellands, told the AP on Saturday that sheriff's deputies were parked in the district attorney's driveway for about a month after Hasse was killed.
Aulbaugh said recently that the FBI was checking to see if Hasse's killing could be related to the March 19 killing of Colorado Department of Corrections head Tom Clements, who was gunned down after answering the doorbell at his home.
Evan Spencer Ebel, a former Colorado inmate and white supremacist who authorities believe killed Clements and a pizza deliveryman two days earlier, was killed in a March 21 shootout with Texas deputies about 100 miles from Kaufman.
Hasse was chief of the organized crime unit when he was an assistant prosecutor in Dallas County in the 1980s, and he handled similar cases in Kaufman County.
"Anything anybody can think of, we're looking through," McLelland said after Hasse's death.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/north-texas-prosecutor-wife-found-dead-home-article-1.1303863
Double murder of North Texas prosecutor and wife was ‘targeted attack’: official
March 31, 2013

The bodies of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found Saturday night in their home. Sources said the couple had been fatally shot. Their deaths come about two months after an assistant district attorney was killed

 ::snipping2::
Kaufman County sheriff’s Lt. Justin Lewis declined to say how the couple died or whether authorities believe their deaths are linked to Hasse’s. Police, FBI agents, Texas Rangers and deputies are all part of the investigation.

A police officer and friend of the couple had checked on them Saturday night and found the door open, reported ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.
The body of Cynthia McLelland, 65, was found in the front of the house, while her husband was found in the hallway, possibly trying to flee, sources told WFAA-TV.

They said the weapon may have been a .223-caliber assault rifle with about 14 rounds fired.

Kaufman Police Chief Chris Aulbaugh told The Dallas Morning News that the McLellands had been shot in their home, and although investigators didn’t know if their deaths were related to Hasse’s killing, they couldn’t discount it.
 ::snipping2::
Aulbaugh said recently that the FBI was checking to see if Hasse’s killing could be related to the March 19 killing of Colorado Department of Corrections head Tom Clements, who was gunned down after answering the doorbell at his home.

Evan Spencer Ebel, a former Colorado inmate and white supremacist who authorities believe killed Clements and a pizza deliveryman two days earlier, was killed in a March 21 shootout with Texas deputies about 100 miles from Kaufman.

Hasse was chief of the organized crime unit when he was an assistant prosecutor in Dallas County in the 1980s, and he handled similar cases in Kaufman County.

Investigators had been looking into the possibility that violent white supremacist gang the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas was involved in the killing.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Kaufman-Co-District-Attorney-wife-shot-to-death-in-their-home-200752961.html
Kaufman County DA, wife slain; link to Hasse murder probed
Posted March 30, 2013, Updated March 31, 2013



FORNEY — Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia were found shot dead inside their Forney home on Saturday night, a chilling crime that put law enforcement agencies across Texas on high alert and shook prosecutors, defense attorneys and others in legal circles around North Texas.
Late Saturday night, sources said a .223-caliber rifle was used in the murders, with approximately 14 rounds being fired.
The McLellands might have been murdered up to 24 hours before their bodies were discovered, sources said. A police officer friend came to the house to check on them and discovered the front door opened Saturday night — then found their bodies inside.
The district attorney's body was found in a hallway where he appeared to have tried to get away, sources said. McLelland's wife, Cynthia, was found dead in a front room in their house.
Their bodies were not removed from the house until 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
The FBI and the Texas Rangers are taking the lead role in the investigation.
After an initial investigation, nothing appeared to be missing from the home, sources added.
Investigators now believe the double murder of the DA and his wife is likely related to the Mark Hasse murder investigation.
More...

Video at Link

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/DAs-murder-raises-fears-of-wider-plot-200782531.html
DA's murder raises fears of wider plot
March 31, 2013

FORNEY — The murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife are especially frightening as their deaths follow the murder of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse just two months ago.
It raises fears that their deaths could be part of a wider plot to target law enforcement officials.
We are expecting questions at a 10 a.m. news conference to focus on whether investigators have developed any links between the cases.
Hasse was shot and killed on January 31 as he walked from his car to the Kaufman County Courthouse on the town square in Kaufman. The case remains unsolved.
Investigators — including Mike McLelland — were poring over Hasse's old cases and looking into whether or not efforts to prosecute members of the Ayran Brotherhood white supremacist gang were connected.
To this date, nothing has materialized — at least no information has been released to the public.
 ::snipping2::
Video at Link

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/Investigators-go-door-to-door-talking-to-North-Texas-neighbors-of-killed-DA-200810961.html
Investigators go door to door talking to North Texas neighbors of killed DA
March 31, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Investigators from the FBI and other local agencies began a widespread door-to-door questioning of residents Sunday afternoon, searching for any clues as to who is behind the brutal double murder of Kaufman County District attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, in the 9300 block of Blarney Stone Way.
"They were asking if I saw anything suspicious," said Mike Griffith.

Specifically, he said FBI agents asked about cell phone numbers. Another neighbor confirmed the same thing, saying agents were going to review local calls from the weekend to see if any seemed out of the ordinary.
Griffith said he heard gunshots early Saturday morning. His yard backs up to the crime scene.

"It was five or six shots, one right after the other," Griffith said, adding he didn't call 911, because it's not uncommon to hear gunfire in the more rural area of unincorporated Kaufman County.
More...

Video at Link

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/01/kaufman-county-district-attorney-shooting-alert-texas/2042011/
Texas county 'on alert' over deaths of prosecutor, wife
April 1, 2013

Investigators probe possible link to white supremacists, but so far have found no evidence.

The district attorney's office in Kaufman, Texas, was closed Monday morning and the courthouse was under tight security following the weekend shooting deaths of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife in their home.

The shootings on Saturday came two months after McLelland's assistant district attorney, Mark Hasse, was fatally shot in a parking lot a block from the courthouse on Jan. 31.
 ::snipping2::
The district attorney's office in Kaufman, Texas, was closed Monday morning and the courthouse was under tight security following the weekend shooting deaths of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife in their home.

The shootings on Saturday came two months after McLelland's assistant district attorney, Mark Hasse, was fatally shot in a parking lot a block from the courthouse on Jan. 31.
 ::snipping2::
McLelland himself, in an Associated Press interview shortly after the Colorado slaying, raised the possibility that Hasse was gunned down by a white supremacist gang.

McLelland, elected district attorney in 2010, said his office had prosecuted several cases against racist gangs, who have a strong presence around Kaufman County, a mostly rural area dotted with subdivisions, with a population of about 104,000.

Kaufman prosecutors were among scores in Texas who were strongly pursuing cases against the prison gangs.

However, there has been no evidence so far of a link to the white supremacist gangs in either of the Kaufman shootings, except for that fact that they appear to be a professional "hit."

Judge Wood has also said that Kaufman County investigators have found no link between the Clements shooting and the killing of Hasse.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/03/31/4740624/kaufman-sheriff-declines-to-link.html
Interim DA appointed in Kaufman County after slayings
March 31, 2013


KAUFMAN -- An interim prosecutor has been chosen to fill in after the slaying of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland.

Brandi Fernandez will lead the district attorney's office for the next 21 days. She had been the first assistant DA under McLelland.

McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found dead in their home near Forney on Saturday night.

State law requires that the DA's first assistant will conduct the affairs of the office until Gov. Rick Perry appoints a permanent successor.

Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood said earlier that he would ask Perry to appoint an interim district attorney.

Wood said investigators haven't found any physical evidence linking McLelland's death with the Jan. 31 fatal shooting of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse, who was gunned down walking to work.

Still, Wood said he believes that the two shootings have to be related.

"There has to be a connection, in my way of thinking," Wood said.

After Hasse's death, McLelland vowed to find the killer, and if he feared for his own safety, he didn't talk about it.

"Not to me," Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes said Sunday when asked if McLelland indicated that he might be a target after Hasse was shot in a parking lot near the courthouse.

Security has been heightened at the Kaufman County Courthouse and the district attorney's office is closed, officials said.
 ::snipping2::

At a news conference Sunday, Byrnes said additional officers from various local law enforcement agencies would be on hand Monday to provide extra security at the courthouse.

Byrnes declined to speculate on a motive for the killings or to connect them to Hasse's killing.

"We have nothing indicating that for sure," Byrnes said. "We are not going into any details because it's an ongoing investigation."

The sheriff said he wouldn't discuss security measures and declined to say whether a deputy had been assigned to protect McLelland after Hasse was killed. Hasse's killer is still at large.

Byrnes said authorities have considered that other Kaufman County officials might be targeted.

"Certainly, we're considering that, obviously," he said.

Byrnes said investigators are conducting a crime-scene investigation at the McLellands' house in the Shamrock addition near Forney.
 ::snipping2::

Investigators told reporters the front door was open and the couple was found shot with what is believed to be an assault rifle.

The sheriff did not say whether the McLellands had security cameras at their home.

The Kaufman County Sheriff's Department is leading the investigation with assistance from the Texas Rangers and the FBI.

"Law enforcement officials are working to ensure the continued safety of the public as well as to ensure the safety of our county and judicial employees," Byrnes said.

Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies arrived in Kaufman late Saturday to assist in the investigation.

The agencies include Kaufman County constable offices, police departments from Forney, Terrell and Kaufman, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Marshals Service and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
 ::snipping2::

The U.S. Honor Flag organization will coordinate the McLellands' funerals to allow law enforcement agencies to focus on the investigation. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The group is a nonprofit organization dedicated to memorializing people who made the ultimate sacrifice for their family, community and country.

Officials have established a tip line at 877-847-7522 for anyone with information about the killings. Callers may remain anonymous. People can also provide tips online at www.kaufmancountycrimestoppers.org.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/apr/1/fbi-texas-rangers-helm-probe-da-killings/
FBI, Texas Rangers helm probe of DA killings
April 1, 2013

The FBI and the Texas Rangers have taken the lead in the investigation of the shooting deaths of Kaufman County, Texas, District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, whose bodies were found Saturday night inside their rural Forney, Texas, home.

The couple was discovered by a police officer friend who had stopped by to check on them and found the front door kicked open. Investigators said Mr. and Mrs. McLelland could have been dead for more than 24 hours before their bodies were discovered in a hallway and the front room. The murder weapon is suspected to be a .223-caliber assault rifle, similar to an AR-15. At least 14 shots had been fired.

The killings have put law enforcement agencies across Texas on high alert. Two months ago, Mr. McLelland’s top assistant, Deputy District Attorney Mark Hasse, was assassinated in broad daylight just a few steps from the county courthouse. He was killed on Jan. 31 as he walked to his office from a parking lot.

Investigators are trying to determine if the McLelland and Hasse shootings are linked, but no suspects have been publicly identified.

Kauffman County deputies had been guarding the McLelland home but were removed last week because Mr. McLelland did not think he needed it and did not want to waste taxpayer dollars.

More...

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Kaufman-County-workers-return-to-work-after-DAs-shooting-death-200865361.html
Search warrant: Kaufman County DA, wife shot multiple times
April 1, 2013

 ::snipping2::
A search warrant obtained Monday afternoon revealed that family friends found the McLellands' bodies at 6:45 p.m. Saturday.
The document says shell casings were observed nearby. Both Mr. and Mrs. McLelland had been shot multiple times. The search warrant says the last time anyone spoke with the district attorney or his wife was at 7:30 p.m. on March 29, a day before they were found.
An FBI detective was also granted a court order forcing AT&T to hand over the phone records of both Mr. and Mrs. McLelland, the document shows.
 ::snipping2::
Speaking from Austin, Gov. Rick Perry said the process to replace McLelland had begun. Josh Havens, a spokesman for the governor, said the appointment would happen "as soon as possible." Assistant District Attorney Brandi Fernandez will serve as the county's top law enforcement official in the interim.
Fernandez prosecuted in the 86th District Court and is expected to fill the role for 21 days until Perry's appointment.
 ::snipping2::
Neighbor David Crone said Cynthia McLelland had expressed concern that more violence was imminent. However, he said she told him she did not feel that she or her husband were in danger.
"She made the statement to me that she didn’t think that was going to be all the killings, The guy that killed over there, " Crone said, referring to the murder of Assistant District Attorney Hasse. "And I said, ‘What about Mike? You think he’s safe?’ And she said, ‘Yeah, I’m not worried about about Mike,’ In the long run that didn’t prove to be true.”
 ::snipping2::
Video at Link

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/04/01/4742255/affidavit-kaufman-da-wife-shot.html
Affidavit: Kaufman DA, wife shot multiple times
April 1, 2013

KAUFMAN - Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife both were shot multiple times at their home near Forney, according to a search warrant affidavit filed by the Texas Rangers and released Monday.

"Family friends located Mike and Cynthia McLelland deceased inside their residence" at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, according to the affidavit.
 ::snipping2::
Investigators are also seeking access to the McLellands' cell phone records as well as a "tower dump" of all cell traffic near their home in the 9300 block of Blarney Stone Drive, according to the affidavit, written by Texas Ranger Eric Kasper. The couple's last known communication was a phone conversation with family members about 7:30 p.m. Friday, the document says.

Kaufman County deputies "observed cartridge casings inside the residence near the two bodies during a protective sweep of the residence," Kasper wrote. "Kaufman County Sheriff's Office personnel also observed multiple gunshot wounds on both victims."
More...


Search Warrant: http://media.star-telegram.com/smedia/2013/04/01/17/12/vNBk9.So.58.pdf

This may be considered bizarre by some, but I wonder if the McLleand's were murdered by someone with an LE or military background? Could it be a rogue cop/s?  We are getting so little information because this is an open investigation and etc., but I was just wondering.  Were there security cameras?  Alarms?  Mike had a firearm to protect himself and was aware of danger.  One of the articles says he dismissed the squad car & protection that was out front the previous week.  Obviously, someone's been keeping tabs of things.  There's no mention of whether the family had dogs, which could have helped.  I just don't know.  Sometimes I think there are folks that are just so bad and so evil that if they are out to get you, they'll find a way.   ::MonkeyNoNo::

http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/crime/texas-das-killing-puts-other-prosecutors-on-alert/nW8NK/
Suspicion in DA death shifts to white supremacists
April 1, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Four top leaders of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas were indicted in October for crimes ranging from murder to drug trafficking. Two months later, authorities issued the bulletin warning that the gang might try to retaliate against law enforcement for the investigation that led to the arrests of 34 of its members on federal charges.
Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife were found dead Saturday in their East Texas home. The killings were especially jarring because they happened just a couple of months after one of the county's assistant district attorneys, Mark Hasse, was killed in a parking lot near his courthouse office.
McLelland was part of a multi-agency task force that took part in the investigation of the Aryan Brotherhood. The task force also included the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as police departments in Houston and Fort Worth.
Investigators have declined to say if the group is the focus of their efforts, but the state Department of Public Safety bulletin warned that the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is "involved in issuing orders to inflict 'mass casualties or death' to law enforcement officials involved in the recent case."
Terry Pelz, a former Texas prison warden and expert on the Aryan Brotherhood said killing law enforcement representatives would be uncharacteristic of the group.
"They don't go around killing officials," he said. "They don't draw heat upon themselves."
But Pelz, who worked in the Texas prison system for 21 years, added that the gang has a history of threatening officials and of killing its own member or rivals. He suggested if the Aryan Brotherhood was behind the slayings in Kaufman County, some sort of disruption in the gang's operations might have prompted their retaliation.
That disruption might have come last year, when federal prosecutors in Houston in November announced indictments against 34 alleged members of the gang, including four of its top leaders in Texas. At the time, prosecutors called the indictment "a devastating blow to the leadership" of the gang.
 ::snipping2::
The killings also came less than two weeks after Colorado's prison chief was shot to death at his front door, apparently by an ex-convict.
Law enforcement agencies throughout Texas were on high alert, and steps were being taken to better protect other DAs and their staffs.
In Harris County, which includes Houston, District Attorney Mike Anderson said he accepted the sheriff's offer of 24-hour security for him and his family. Anderson said he also would take precautions at his office, the largest of its kind in Texas, with more than 270 prosecutors.
"I think district attorneys across Texas are still in a state of shock," Anderson said Sunday.
McLelland, 63, was the 13th prosecutor killed in the U.S. since the National Association of District Attorneys began keeping count in the 1960s.
Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes would not give details Sunday of how the killings unfolded and said there was nothing to indicate for certain whether the DA's slaying was connected to Hasse's.
El Paso County, Colo., sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Joe Roybal said investigators had so far found no evidence connecting the Texas killings to the Colorado case, but added: "We're examining all possibilities."
Colorado's corrections director, Tom Clements, was killed March 19 when he answered the doorbell at his home outside Colorado Springs. Evan Spencer Ebel, a white supremacist and former Colorado inmate suspected of shooting Clements, died in a shootout with Texas deputies two days later about 100 miles from Kaufman.
In an Associated Press interview shortly after the Colorado slaying, McLelland himself raised the possibility that Hasse was gunned down by a white supremacist gang.
 ::snipping2::
No arrests have been made in Hasse's Jan. 31 slaying. After that attack, McLelland said, he carried a gun everywhere around town, even when walking his dog. He figured assassins were more likely to try to attack him outside. He said he had warned all his employees to be constantly on the alert.

Bolded by me.

I see in the article below there is mention the McLelland family had a dog. 

http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/crime/texas-das-killing-puts-other-prosecutors-on-alert/nW8NK/


From some of the articles I've been reading, some seem to feel the murders could be the work of a white supremacist gang.  I've also read in various articles some feel it's the Mexican Gang MS 13.  Or possibly one is cooperating with the other.  Scary stuff any way you look at it. 

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Former-FBI-agent-has-theories-on-DAs-murder-200978971.html
Former FBI agent has theories on DA's murder
April 1, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Law enforcement sources told News 8 that investigators are starting from scratch, with no leads in the McLelland murders.
Immediately after Hasse was killed, McLelland had around-the-clock security, but the patrol car was pulled last month. Sources told News 8 it was only supposed to be a temporary assignment.
News 8 also learned the McLellands had surveillance cameras in their home — but only the kind which could be monitored online rather than the type that constantly records.
Everything in this case is likely being looked at — from county employees to organized crime.
"The most likely is organized [crime]," said Buck Revell, former special agent-in-charge of the Dallas FBI office. "But it could be an individual hiring professional hit men."
Revell said both Mark Hasse and the McLelland murders appear to have been carefully planned, with surveillance likely done on both targets, and an execution-style killing of Kaufman County's two top prosecutors. The motives remain a mystery.
"There's always the revenge factor," Revell said, "but the most likely [scenario] is it's an ongoing investigation or an ongoing prosecution that may have triggered this."
Brandi Hunt Fernandez is the county's new interim district attorney. Gov. Rick Perry appointed her on Monday — a position she will hold for 21 days until a permanent replacement is selected.
 ::snipping2::
Solving the Hasse and McLelland murders might take years, experts warned. It's likely to be a criminal investigation that's organized and methodical — just as the killings appear to have been.
Though the DA's office was closed on Monday, every employee showed up to work, County Judge Wood noted.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Memorial-funeral-set-for-slain-Kaufman-DA-and-wife-200958711.html
Memorial, funeral set for slain Kaufman DA and wife
April 1, 2013

 ::snipping2::
There will be a public memorial Thursday, April 4 at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Sunnyvale, 3018 North Belt Line Road.
The McLellands' funeral is set for Friday morning April 5  at 10 o'clock at First Baptist Church of Wortham, 300 South 3rd Street.
Burial will follow in Wortham, Mike McLelland's home town.
Cynthia will be cremated and her ashes buried in the casket with her husband.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/02/us/aryan-brotherhood-texas-profile/
Explainer: What is the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas?
April 2, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
*The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas has been blamed for more than 100 homicides
*Authorities have not made a clear link between the group and two prosecutors' deaths
*The Kaufman County DA's office had helped prosecute some of the gangs' members
*The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas was denied membership in the Aryan Brotherhood

More...

Video at link.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/03/us-texas-districtattorney-idUSBRE9310OM20130403
Texas prosecutor steps into job after predecessor gunned down
April 1, 2013

(Reuters) - Brandi Fernandez slipped into the Kaufman County Courthouse in her first full day as interim district attorney on Tuesday, taking over a job that authorities believe got her predecessor and one of her colleagues killed.

Praised as a smart, tough litigator and a fierce advocate for child victims of crime, Fernandez declined to address reporters and remained under close protection inside the courthouse throughout the day. A police cruiser was parked outside her single-family home surrounded by trees on Monday and Tuesday.

Atop her agenda was investigating the targeted killings of former District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife on Saturday and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse on January 31.

As first assistant district attorney under McLelland, Fernandez, 42, was named to the interim job on Monday, after having worked in the office for nearly a decade.
 ::snipping2::
Authorities believe the McLellands' killer intended to send a message. Mike and Cynthia McLelland each suffered multiple gunshot wounds at their home, and sheriff's deputies found cartridge casings next to their bodies, according to an affidavit reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday.

The McLelland killings came just two months after McLelland vowed to capture the killer of Hasse, who was shot dead near the town square.
 ::snipping2::
ARYAN BROTHERHOOD SPECULATION

Authorities have yet to identify any suspects while people in Kaufman speculate it was the work of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, a white supremacist prison gang that had been the target of 34 indictments stemming from a task force that included Kaufman County prosecutors.

The racketeering charges accused the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas of exerting control over prison populations and neighborhoods through intimidation and violence and involvement in three murders, multiple attempted murders, kidnappings, assaults, and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

A Houston-based federal prosecutor was withdrawing from his role in the multiagency task force that brought the racketeering case against the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of Texas said on Tuesday.

The spokeswoman would not elaborate on Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman's reasoning for withdrawing, saying only that the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of Texas would continue to prosecute the case.
More...

http://www.newsmax.com/US/Prosecutor-Aryan-Brotherhood-Case/2013/04/02/id/497535
Report: Prosecutor Quits Aryan Brotherhood Case Citing ‘Security Reasons’
April 2, 2013


A federal prosecutor involved in the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas case has reportedly withdrawn citing “security reasons.”

Assistant U.S. attorney Jay Hileman emailed defense attorneys Tuesday, informing them he was leaving the case, two of the lawyers who received the emails said.

"He sent the email to every lawyer representing a defendant in the Aryan Brotherhood federal case, and he said — very short email — that he was withdrawing for security reasons," Katherine Scardino, a lawyer for one of the defendants, told Talking Points Memo.

The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Texas would not confirm to news outlets that Hileman had quit the case. It issued a statement saying, "The case currently pending in the Southern District of Texas has been and will continue to be worked by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas in partnership with the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.”
 ::snipping2::
No official connection has been made between the Kaufman County shootings case and the white supremacist group, but investigators are focusing their efforts in that direction.

Four of the group’s leaders were indicted in October of 2012, and in December a bulletin was issued that the supremecists might attempt to harm law enforcement officials in retaliation for the probe that also nabbed 30 more of its members.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57577749-504083/mike-mclelland-murder-neighbors-reportedly-saw-suspicious-suv-before-slaying-of-texas-da-wife/
Mike McLelland Murder: Neighbors reportedly saw suspicious SUV before slaying of Texas DA, wife
April 3, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Although investigators won't comment on the information, neighbors told CBS DFW they saw a beaten-up white-colored SUV parked at a street corner near the McLelland house for four days before the attack and that there appeared to be four men inside the vehicle.
Kaufman County crime scene technicians were recently investigating tire tracks found just down the road from the McLellands' home, CBS DFW reports. Technicians also marked the ground where they found a number of cigarette butts.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/04/03/mike-mclelland-investigation-focuses-on-those-the-d-a-prosecuted.html
Mike McLelland Investigation Focuses on Those the D.A. Prosecuted
April 3, 2013

Former Kaufman County justice of the peace Eric Williams might be a primer suspect had he not volunteered so readily to submit to a gunpowder residue test after the shootings of the two men who had prosecuted him for theft.
The first of the gun residue tests followed the January 31 killing of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse in broad daylight in a municipal employee parking lot.

The second gun residue test was conducted during a late-night meeting with investigators in another parking lot, at a Denny’s. This was hours after Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia McLelland, were discovered shot to death in their home.

Williams’s lawyer says both tests were negative. The lawyer, David Sergi, reports that his client also let investigators examine his cellphone.

“This guy has nothing to hide,” Sergi says. “We went through the same drill last time.”

Sergi notes that Williams had learned just the day before the McLelland killings that an appeals panel had agreed to hear oral arguments in his ongoing effort to get his 2012 conviction overturned.

“We want to be able to focus on Eric’s innocence of the crimes he was convicted of, as opposed to something he had nothing to do with,” Sergi says.

The investigators understandably took an interest in Williams as someone who reportedly had been heard to utter death threats in the past and who had been prosecuted by McLelland and Hasse.

Ironically, Williams and McLelland had both been elected in 2010 after unseating incumbents. They had posed for a picture along with the other new county officeholders after their swearing in on January 1, 2011.
Less than six months later, in May 2011, Williams was indicted by McLelland’s office for the theft of three computer monitors from a county building. Hasse joined McLelland in prosecuting the case, which included surveillance video that apparently shows Williams carrying boxes marked Dell from the county annex. The jury deliberated for three and a half hours before returning a guilty verdict.

“I’m ecstatic,” McLelland told the press afterward. “It shows the community that elected officials should be, and are, held to a higher standard. It’s not the old system over here any more.”

At the sentencing, McLelland and Hasse asked the judge to impose a prison sentence. Those who took the stand at the prosecution's behest included an ex-girlfriend who is reported by the Kaufman Herald to have testified that Williams said “he had something for my son” and then flashed a gun. The woman, Janice Gray, further testified that on another occasion he threatened to shoot her if she walked away from him.

There was also testimony by a local attorney who, by the Kaufman Herald’s account, said he had overheard Williams become so angry with another lawyer over a mixup involving a mediation proceeding that he threatened to kill not just the man but his family and leave his house a pile of smoking ashes.
More...

Comments

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Source-Members-of-Aryan-Brotherhood-of-Texas-offering-leads-in-DA-killing-201336941.html
Source: Members of Aryan Brotherhood of Texas offering leads in DA killing
April 3, 2013

DALLAS –– Some members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas have come forward and offered leads to the task force investigating the murders of Kaufamn County's district attorney, his wife and one of his top prosecutors, according to a law enforcement source speaking on condition of anonymity.
At this point, none of those leads have checked out, the source said, but the law enforcement task force is currently flooded with tips, investigators told News 8.
Separately, deputies arrested Nick Morale, 56, on Wednesday for making terroristic threats against a Kaufman County official. Morale is not believed to be affiliated with any white supremacy groups.
Publicly, Kaufman County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Justin Lewis would not identify the official or expound on the comment, but News 8 has learned Morale is accused of saying "the judge is next." Exactly whom Morale was referring to remains uncertain but another judge is keeping him in jail with a bond of $1 million.
 ::snipping2::
Video at Link

This guy must be a real idiot or maybe he didn't get enough attention as a child, but using the hotline set up for the murdered DA's to make threats just crazy.  I wouldn't want to play around with the FBI, the Texas Rangers and etc. right now.  

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/terrell-man-arrested-for-using-kaufman-county-tip-line-to-threaten-employee-201311131.html
Terrell man arrested for using Kaufman tip line to threaten county employee
April 3, 2013


KAUFMAN –– A Terrell man was jailed Wednesday on a charge that he threatened the life of a Kaufman County safety official on a hotline set up for the public to submit tips to help investigators find who killed two of the county’s top prosecutors and the district attorney’s wife.
Nick Morale, 56, is being held in the Kaufman County Jail on $1 million bond. He’s charged with making a terroristic threat. According to an arrest affidavit, Kaufman County Chief Deputy Bryan Beavers reported the threat to the Texas Department of Public Safety on Monday.
The caller stated that a specific public official "would be the next victim." The name of that person is redacted on the affidavit. The document says investigators visited Morale's address after linking it to the phone number listed on the call log.
When he was arrested, the agent noticed that Morale had blocked his phone's caller ID feature when the call was made to the tip line. Specifics regarding what was said during the threat were not released.
Kaufman County Sheriff Lt. Justin Lewis said investigators have not found any evidence linking Morale to the weekend killing of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, or the fatal shooting of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse outside the courthouse on Jan. 31.
 ::snipping2::
The Texas Rangers arrested Morale on Tuesday in Kaufman, Lewis said. He was arraigned Wednesday morning.
During a media briefing Wednesday afternoon, Lewis declined to elaborate on the investigation into the murders of the McLellands or Hasse. He urged residents to call the tip line at 877.847.7522 with any information “big or small” that may be related to the crimes.
Investigators have not named a person of interest or a suspect in either of those cases.
 ::snipping2::
A memorial service for the McLellands is set for 1 p.m. at the Sunnyvale First Baptist Church, located at 3018 North Belt Line Road in Sunnyvale.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Police-follow-every-clue-in-Kaufman-DA-murder-case-201370001.html
Police follow every clue in Kaufman DA murder case
April 4, 2013

KAUFMAN — A high-ranking law enforcement source tells News 8 that some members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas are trying to help investigators trying to solve the murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife.
Authorities say every tip is being investigated and every lead is being pursued.
 ::snipping2::
Since the bodies of McLelland and his wife were found at their home in Forney on Saturday night, investigators have been chasing every angle with no solid leads or suspects.
On Wednesday, deputies announced they had arrested a man named Nick Morale.
Investigators found guns inside his home in Terrell, News 8 has learned. They said the 56-year-old left a threat this week on a tip line that "a judge would be the next victim."
Detectives say nothing links Morale to the murders. One neighbor said he considers Morale "odd," but harmless.
 ::snipping2::
Officers continue to pour into Kaufman, four days after the McLellands were found dead. Authorities are interviewing many people — including former associates of the prosecutor.
"We have not in this investigation named a person of interest or any suspects," said Kaufman Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Justin Lewis.
The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas remains under heavy suspicion. A high-ranking source told News 8 that some of its members are actually offering leads to investigators, but that nothing has come of it.
"I can tell you, leads are coming in on a very regular basis," Lt. Lewis said.
Kaufman County has prosecuted members of the Aryan Brotherhood. In December, an alert was issued warning the white supremacist group was planning "mass casualties or death" to law enforcement.
On January 31, Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was killed just steps away from the courthouse.
Now — with another murder — the investigation is still wide open.
"Everybody that's here is focused on the same thing," Lt. Lewis said.
Unresolved at the time of McClelland's death was a lawsuit by a former DA office employee who said McClelland unfairly terminated him.
Both sides traded sharp comments, but parties close to the case say the suit couldn't have resulted in violent action.
Video at Link

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/21872753/kaufman-county-arrest-not-linked-to-das-killing
Kaufman County arrest not linked to DA's killing
April 3, 2013

A sheriff's official says a man has been arrested for making a threat during the investigation into the killings of a Texas prosecutor and his wife, but there is no indication he's connected to the deaths.

Kaufman County sheriff's Lt. Justin Lewis said Wednesday that 56-year-old Nick Morale has been arrested on a charge of making a terroristic threat.

Lewis says Morale called the tip line established by authorities after the killings of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia and used it to threaten a specific county official. Authorities aren't identifying the official.
 ::snipping2::
Video at Link

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/04/100000-reward-in-texas-case-of-slain-da-and-his-wife/2054925/
$100,000 reward offered in Texas case of slain DA, wife
April 4, 2013

As Texas mourned slain Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, Gov. Rick Perry announced a $100,000 reward for information that leads to the killer's arrest.
 ::snipping2::
The McLellands were found shot to death Saturday in their house in rural Forney, about 20 miles east of Dallas. Their slayings, just two months after two men gunned down Hasse, have stunned the county of 105,000. Kaufman County Crimestoppers has offered a $100,000 reward in the Hasse case.

Police have not arrested anyone in the deaths of Hasse or the McLellands and are investigating possible links to the March 19 killing of Colorado prisons director Tom Clements. Texas deputies in a shootout March 21 killed former 211 Crew prison gang member Evan Ebel, a suspect in the killing of Clements and a pizza delivery man. Investigators have said the gun Ebel used in Texas killed Clements.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/McLelland-Funeral-Held-Friday-in-Wortham-201595401.html
Funeral Services for McLellands to be Held Friday
April 5, 2013

A slain Texas prosecutor and his wife are to be laid to rest in the small town where he grew up in the central part of the state.

The funeral for Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia McLelland, is set for 10 a.m. Friday in Wortham. The town of about 1,000 residents is about 75 miles south of Dallas.

The Honor Network says dozens of law enforcement representatives from across the country and other nations are expected at the First Baptist Church of Wortham and graveside at Wortham Cemetery.
 ::snipping2::

Video at Link

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Kaufman-DA-visited-gun-shop-hours-before-murder-201555571.html
Kaufman DA visited gun shop hours before murder
April 4, 2013

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Man-arrested-for-threat-regarding-Kaufman-Co-prosecutor-on-Facebook-201557591.html
Man arrested for threat regarding Kaufman Co. prosecutor on Facebook
April 5, 2013

A man was arrested Thursday after allegedly writing a Facebook post that threatened a Kaufman County prosecutor.
Robert Allan Miller, 52, is being held on a $1,000,000 bond for a charge of making a terroristic threat.
The arrest comes a day after a Terrell man was arrested for threatening the life of a Kaufman County official on a hotline set up to submit tips in the investigation into the murder of two prosecutors this year in the Kaufman County District Attorney's Office. There is no indication the two threats are related.
In the Facebook posting allegedly written by Miller, he said that he "expect that Assistant District Attorney Daniel Floyd will soon perish, bringing closure to an era of unacceptable practices and allowing Kaufman County residents to move forward with liberty and justice."
 ::snipping2::

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2013/04/in-facebook-post-forney-gun-shop-owner-clarifies-reports-about-murdered-kaufman-county-das-recent-visit-to-store.html/
In Facebook post, Forney gun shop owner clarifies reports about slain Kaufman County DA’s recent visit to store
April 5, 2013

Some media reports about slain Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland’s final visit to a Forney gun store last week suggest he was there shopping for guns for his employees and that he was worried for their safety.

But in a Facebook posting on Thursday night, the store owner said some of his comments have been taken out of context. Helz Firearms owner Oneil Kidwill granted multiple interviews Thursday about McLelland’s visit to his store, which was recorded on security cameras hours before McLelland and his wife Cynthia were murdered in their home.

Kidwill now says some of what has been reported is misleading and that McLelland was not looking to buy a gun that day.

McLelland’s oldest son, J.R. McLelland, also cautioned against placing too much significance on the visit to the gun shop.

“He did that all the time,” McLelland told our Selwyn Crawford on Thursday. “He always went to gun stores. He did that all 63 years of his life. Please let people know that.”

Here’s what Kidwill posted on the store’s Facebook page:

I have been invaded by Press over the past couple of days. The interview I did with CBS that has the surveillance footage was taken slightly out of context. The images they are publishing are of mike coming in the store, shaking my hand, talking to me and Bones for a minute, looking at a pistol that i asked him to hold, then leaving in his car. More...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/06/us/investigation-continues-of-shootings-in-kaufman-tex.html?_r=0
Texas Police Seeking Clues to How Killer Got in Home
April 5, 2013

KAUFMAN, Tex. — Investigators looking for clues in the killing of the local district attorney and his wife are trying to answer a key question about the crime: did the couple know the person or people who shot them?

Law enforcement officials are wondering about that possibility because the prosecutor’s wife may have opened the front door of their house before shots were fired. The Kaufman County district attorney, Mike McLelland, 63, and his wife, Cynthia, 65, died at their home near Forney last Saturday morning, possibly around 7 a.m. Ms. McLelland was found in her pajamas in the front of the house, and Mr. McLelland was found toward the rear.

Officials said that Mr. McLelland probably heard the first shot and ran to get a gun or to get away. The McLellands’ bodies were found later that day, by friends who got worried after not hearing from them.

How the assailant or assailants got into the house is an important piece of the puzzle. The McLellands had been very cautious of their surroundings and of strangers since one of Mr. McLelland’s top prosecutors, Mark E. Hasse, 57, was shot dead on Jan. 31 while walking to his courthouse office. In the weeks after Mr. Hasse’s killing, Mr. McLelland had told reporters that he had started carrying a gun everywhere. He also kept a number of firearms at his house.

Given Mr. McLelland’s caution, investigators believe that it was unlikely his wife would have opened the door for a stranger. Investigators are also looking into the possibility that the killer used some kind of trickery or deception to get inside.

“Could they have known the shooter or shooters? Could it have been a ruse entry?” said one law enforcement official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss the investigation. “Yes, these, among other scenarios, are being explored.” The official said there were no signs of forced entry.
 ::snipping2::
The authorities have not identified any suspects or a motive in the murders, and they have said that so far, they have no evidence connecting the killing of the McLellands with that of Mr. Hasse.

Although there were significant differences in the ways in which the two prosecutors were killed, another law enforcement official said the killer seemed to be familiar with the area and the routines of the victims. Shell casings were found at the McLellands’ home, but none were recovered in the killing of Mr. Hasse. Investigators believe Mr. Hasse was shot with a revolver, while the McLellands were killed with a .223-caliber assault rifle.

A defense lawyer who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing said that a witness to Mr. Hasse’s murder — a woman who works in the area — had told him that a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and gloves confronted Mr. Hasse in an employee parking lot and that the two exchanged words. The man bumped Mr. Hasse, who pushed him away. The man then pulled out a gun and shot Mr. Hasse in the head several times before fleeing in a Ford Taurus.

The lawyer, a friend of Mr. Hasse’s, said Mr. Hasse had begun carrying a Glock pistol in the midst of a case involving a former justice of the peace accused of stealing computer equipment from a county office. Mr. Hasse was the lead prosecutor on that case, and became concerned after witnesses said the defendant had made threatening remarks.

A lawyer for the former official, Eric L. Williams, said his client had no role in the shootings and had never threatened Mr. Hasse or Mr. McLelland.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/McLelland-family-issues-appeal-201776451.html
Family of slain Kaufman County DA issues appeal
April 7, 2013

Video at Link

Yes, Muffy, it is very scary!

Yes.  Not only was he targeted and murdered, but so was his wife.  That speaks volumes, imo.  A warning.  Not only will we get you, we will get your family too.  That's the message I see.  JMHO

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/04/son-of-slain-texas-da-mike-mclelland-confident-justice-will-be-served/
Son of Slain Texas DA Mike McLelland Confident Justice Will Be Served
April 8, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Surveillance video surfaced from the day before the McLellands were killed, showing the northeast Texas DA shopping at a local gun store. Steven O’Neill Kidwell, owner of Helz Firearms in Forney, told ABC News that McLelland liked to just window shop and stopped in periodically.
“He came in to check up and say hi, and see how sales are. And gun control was such a big issue. His safety was not a concern of his, but his co-workers safety was,” said Kidwell.
“He didn’t go to a gun store just because [Mark Hasse] got murdered. He went to every gun show in the Dallas/Fort Worth area,” J.R. McLelland said.
The McLelland family has extended its thanks to law enforcement, which has worked nonstop to find those responsible for the killings, as well as those in the community and outside the Lone Star State who have sent their well-wishes.
The family remains confident that someone will be held accountable, even if it’s “a week from now or a year from now.”
 ::snipping2::
The family has asked for privacy and adds that although some have tried to speak on the family’s behalf, family members will be the only ones commenting as news develops. In response to statements made by Chris Heisler, who had identified himself as a family spokesman, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement saying in part that Heisler’s “self-description as family spokesperson and his statement of the family’s feelings are both inaccurate and unauthorized.”

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2013/04/kaufman-county-sheriffs-office-says-honor-network-ceo-is-not-an-authorized-spokesman-for-mclelland-family.html/
Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office says Honor Network CEO is not an authorized spokesman for McLelland family
April 8, 2013

On Saturday a man who claimed to represent some relatives of slain Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and wife Cynthia said the family is “furious” over the way the investigation into their deaths has been handled. Today, the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office offered a rebuttal by insisting that Chris Heisler, founder of the Honor Network, does not speak for the McLelland family.

“The members of Mike and Cynthia McLelland’s family that the victims’ services branches of the investigation have been in contact with since Mr. Heisler’s comments were made have almost wholly responded that his self-description as family spokesperson and his statement of the family’s feelings are both inaccurate and unauthorized,” says the release, which follows in full.

The sheriff’s department also says that while his intentions are good, anything Heisler says is “purely speculative in nature.”
 ::snipping2::
McLelland’s son, J.R. McLelland, praised Heisler’s work on the honor flag detail, security and the memorial. “He did a great job on all that,” said McLelland. “And now it’s over.”

J.R. McLelland said Heisler no longer speaks for the family. He said the family is not furious about the way the investigation is being handled, “because it’s only been a week.”

He said the weekend’s events are not a major distraction, and investigators including the Texas Rangers continue to work hard on the case.

“Just because Margaret Thatcher died and it’s going to be the lead story doesn’t mean the Rangers stop working,” he said.

This isn’t the first time Heisler’s become part of a local news story: In February he held several press conferences following the escape and recapture of a prisoner who stabbed a Miami police officer during a stop in Grapevine. During one he asked area district attorneys to increase the reward being offered for Alberto Morales. On Saturday he said the $200,000 being offered in the McLelland case wasn’t enough.

http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2013/04/search-for-replacement-for-slain-kaufman-county-da-mike-mclelland-expanding-beyond-interim-appointment.html/
Search for replacement for slain Kaufman County DA Mike McLelland expanding beyond interim appointment
April 8, 2013

The search for a replacement for Mike McLelland has expanded beyond interim District Attorney Brandi Fernandez.

McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found shot to death in their Forney home over Easter weekend. Authorities are searching for the killers and trying to determine if there is a link to the murder of McLelland prosecutor Mark Hasse, who was shot and killed Jan. 31 as he walked to the courthouse.

The county is interviewing possible candidates, said one attorney who was interviewed for the position.

Defense attorney Dennis Jones, who ran for Kaufman County district attorney a decade ago, said he was interviewed last week at the courthouse. But Jones said he is not interested.

Jones said the interview was conducted by Kaufman County’s elected judges.

“I’m sort of at the end of my law career,” said Jones, who said he plans to retire in six to nine months.

Jones said he didn’t know who else has been interviewed.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Honor-Flag-Flies-Monday-for-McLelland-201878231.html
Honor Flag Flies for McLelland
April 8, 2013

The U.S. Honor Flag was raised for the second time this year in Kaufman County.

This time, the flag honored Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, who was shot to death on March 30 in his Forney home. McLelland's wife, Cynthia, was also killed.

"Today the U.S. honor flag is here to celebrate the life and service of a great individual," said Chris Heisler, founder of the Honor Network.

The service to fly the flag began at noon Monday, with the flag remaining at the top of the flagpole outside the Kaufman County Courthouse for 24 hours. Organizers told NBC 5 that the flag would fly at full height because they believe McLelland would not have wanted it at half-staff.

In February, the flag was raised for Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse, who was killed outside the Kaufman County courthouse in a shooting.
 ::snipping2::
The investigations into the murders of both top Kaufman County prosecutors continue with no arrests.

Sheriffs and other law enforcement in the area have said very little about either investigation. Authorities have set up a tip line at 877-847-7522 and a billboard campaign to get the public involved in sharing information.

There is a reward for information leading to an arrest in the McLelland case. The fund, which includes money from the governor's office, has reached $200,000.

Interesting that the McClelland's were attacked on the one night weapons were put up.   :2thinky:

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/Slain-Texas-DA-Put-Weapons-Away-Hours-Before-He-Was-Killed-Son-Says-202134761.html
Slain Texas DA Put Weapons Away Hours Before He Was Killed, Son Says
April 10, 2013

WORTHAM (April 9, 2013)—J.R. McLelland, the son of slain Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, says his father ordinarily kept a gun "in every room of his house," but couldn't reach one when his killer or killers slipped into his home because he had put the weapons away hours before.

J.R. McLelland told The Dallas Morning News the guns were stored for the protection of visitors who attended a party at his father’s home the night before.

McLelland says he believes that, had the weapons been in their normal spots, his father likely would have tried to reach one.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Slain-DAs-family-dismisses-spokesperson-says--202238781.html
Slain DA's family dismisses spokesman
April 9, 2013

Video at Link

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Sources-name-new-Kaufman-County-DA--202398351.html
Perry names judge new Kaufman County DA
Published April 10, 2013, Updated April 11, 2013

KAUFMAN — Kaufman County's newest district attorney admitted she has some fears after the murder of two prosecutors there, but insists she is ready to get to work.
"Sure, I’m worried, but we have good people that are watching us," said Judge Erleigh Norville Wiley after Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced Wednesday he had chosen her to become Kaufman’s next DA.
"There are all these other elected officials that are in fear for their lives," she said. "It's not just me... we’re going to keep working."
Wiley, 49, will finish out the term of Mike McLelland, 63, who was killed along with his wife, Cynthia, in their Forney home on March 30.
Once the appointment is confirmed by the Texas Senate, Wiley will hold the position until the general election in 2014.
 ::snipping2::
The new position thrusts her into a very high profile position after the murder of two of Kaufman’s prosecutors this year. Two months before McLelland’s killing, his top deputy, Mark Hasse, was gunned down in the town square.
Deputies have made no arrests in either case.
County leaders considered dozens of applicants to replace McLelland, some of whom were hesitant to accept the job.
Brandi Fernandez, an assistant district attorney in Kaufman County, held the position on an interim basis after McLelland’s murder and was considered a candidate. But the governor did not indicate why he selected Wiley.
She arrives in the office with constant security surrounding her and her family. Armed officers now escort county workers into and out of the courthouse each day.
 ::snipping2::
Video at Link

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57579431/authorities-search-home-in-slain-texas-da-investigation/
Authorities search home in slain Texas DA investigation
April 12, 2013

A search warrant at the home of a former justice of the peace is being executed by the task force investigating the recent murders of a Texas district attorney and his wife, CBS News has confirmed.

Agents were seen entering the home of former Kaufman County justice of the peace Eric Williams, who was prosecuted last year for theft by the district attorney's office. Williams was convicted and lost his position.
Williams has denied any role in the deaths of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, who were found dead in their home on March 30. Two months earlier, a prosecutor in McLelland's office, Mark Hasse, was fatally shot as he was leaving work in Kaufman, about 30 miles southeast of Dallas.

Williams — who hasn't been named a suspect in any of the deaths — told the Dallas Morning News that he voluntarily turned over his cellphones to authorities. He also has said he voluntarily submitted to a gunshot residue test to demonstrate his innocence and had no hard feelings toward McLelland or his office.

Spokesmen for the FBI and the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office confirmed they were executing a search warrant, but declined to provide details until the search was complete.

A listed phone number for Williams went unanswered Friday afternoon. But his attorney, David Sergi, released a statement Friday saying his client "has cooperated with law enforcement and vigorously denies any and all allegations."
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http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/search-home-former-kaufman-county-justice-peace-eric-williams-mike-mclelland-mark-hasse-202764651.html
Authorities searching home of former Kaufman County judge who had deep ties to slain prosecutors
April 12, 2013

Investigators are searching the home of former Kaufman County justice of the peace Eric Lyle Williams, who has previously been questioned in the murders of District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and prosecutor Mark Hasse.
Federal and local agencies, including the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department, the FBI and Texas Rangers, served the search warrant Friday at 3:30 p.m. The document is sealed. Investigators are also searching the home of a relative and the neighborhood is blocked off.
A source speaking on the condition of anonymity said authorities are searching for weapons, computer files and records.
Williams has not been charged in the murders of Hasse or McLelland.
In March 2012, Williams, 46, was convicted of theft by a public servant and burglary of a building. He was caught on courthouse surveillance coming and going from the county's IT department clutching computer monitors.
McLelland and Hasse aggressively prosecuted Williams. During the trial, Hasse hurled insults at him, calling Williams a "liar," "crooked official" and a "thief," the Forney Post reported.
Quoting from the paper, in closing arguments Hasse said: “The Defendant’s actions are incredible beyond belief and stupid. Do we really need to do an official County memo that says do not steal from the County. Do not circumvent the county’s security measures.”
During last year's corruption trial, the courthouse was on heightened alert considering Williams was in law enforcement and an elected judge. Williams is also a member of the Texas State Guard. When his vehicle was searched in the computer theft case, authorities testified they found several military-style weapons and a "considerable" amount of ammunition, the Post reported.
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In a dramatic development during Williams' corruption trial, Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood testified that the former justice of the peace had asked him in a letter to use his influence to call off the criminal investigation against him. Wood declined.
The Post quoted Hasse as saying, "The Defendant did not ask Judge Wood to investigate to help clear this up because he is innocent. In the letter he accepts responsibility. He says I’ve done something wrong, and I’ve learned my lesson, hoping for some kind of back-door favor. He is an elected public servant and he is a thief and a liar. We ask you to find him guilty.”
During the sentencing phase of the trial, prosecutor Hasse revealed that Williams threatened to kill an ex-girlfriend in Huntsville "involving the display of a handgun," according to court records. He also threatened the life of a Kaufman attorney and his family in 2010, according to prosecutor's records.
Williams is appealing his convictions.
In Nov. 2011, Williams' attorney filed a motion to disqualify District Attorney McLelland from the case.
"The indictment of Mr. Williams was not the result of a crime having been committed as much as it was an attempt to settle a political grudge," wrote San Marcos-based Attorney David Sergi in the motion. "Mr. Williams and Mr. McLelland are political enemies, nothing more."
Last month, hours after McLelland and his wife were found murdered in their Forney home, Williams volunteered to give a swab of his hand to authorities so they could search for gun residue. He also voluntarily gave officials his cell phone.
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Video at Link

http://www.kaufmanherald.com/news/article_4cc5f508-a3c7-11e2-ab3a-0019bb2963f4.html
Law enforcement activity in housing addition continues
April 12, 2013

A taskforce looking for the murderers of Mike and Cynthia McLelland and of Mark Hasse, continue to blockade a housing addition on FM 1388 (Houston Street) just a block or so south of U.S. Highway 175.
A former publisher of The Kaufman Herald, who lives in the Wellington Addition, said that he was allowed to go to his home, but it is located "around the corner" from the law enforcement activity.
"(Law enforcement) pretty much have it buttoned up," Micahael Gresham said of the police presence.
Lt. Justin Lewis said earlier today that the taskforce was "executing a search warrant at this time in the City of Kaufman, in relation to the joint investigation.
Lewis also said rumors of more shooting are untrue and that law enforcement is "just executing the warrant," refusing to say where in the Wellington Addition.
The collaborative law enforcement effort to solve the murders is headed up by the sheriff's office, Texas Rangers, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Law enforcement has set up roadblocks near the Highway 175 service road adjacent to the Crossroads Liquor Store and at FM 1388's north side intersection with State Highway 34.
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http://www.kvue.com/home/202843491.html
Former Kaufman County JP arrested
April 13, 2013

Kaufman County records show that former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams has been arrested.
He's the man whose house authorities were searching on Friday afternoon and into the night in connection with their investigation of the Kaufman County prosecutor murders.
Williams, 46, was booked into the Kaufman County Jail at 12:32 a.m. Saturday and charged with making a "terroristic threat." Bond was set at $1 million.
The district attorney's office prosecuted and convicted Williams last year for theft. He lost his justice of the peace position as a result.
Investigators spent hours in Williams' home and that of his in-laws on Friday. The two families live on the same street in Kaufman. They removed boxes, computers and guns.
It's now been two weeks since investigators found the bodies of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife in their home near Forney. Prosecutor Mark Hasse was shot and killed on his way to the courthouse on January 31.
Eric Williams has links to both McLelland and Hasse but has not been charged in connection with their deaths.
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Video at Link

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/FBI-searches-storage-facility-in-Seagoville-202873101.html
Feds search storage facility in Seagoville
April 13, 2013

SEAGOVILLE — Dozens of federal agents and Texas Rangers spent more than six hours executing a search warrant Saturday evening at a self-storage facility in Seagoville.
An FBI spokesperson would not confirm who owns the unit targeted at Gibson Self Storage, but said investigators were "following up on leads" releated to the Kaufman County murder investigation.
Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife were found dead at their home near Forney last month; and assistant DA Mark Hesse was gunned down as he walked to the county courthouse in January.
Officials would not say whether the search in Seagoville was linked to Friday's search at the home of former Kaufman Justice of the Peace Eric Williams. Williams was arrested late Friday and charged with making a "terroristic threat."
FBI and ATF agents and members of the Texas Rangers could be seen taking photos and walking in and out of the gated facility. They carried bags and boxes of evidence away from the scene.
A white sedan that was pushed out of one of the units appeared to be getting special attention from the investigative team.
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Video at Link

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Former-Kaufman-County-JP-arrested--202836071.html
Charges expected in Kaufman County murders
April 13, 2013

KAUFMAN — Sources tell News 8 there is strong evidence linking former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams to the murders of District Attorney Mike McClelland and his wife and to the murder of prosecutor Mark Hasse.
Charges are expected soon.
According to sources, weapons similar to those used in the murders were found during the search of Williams' Kaufman residence on Friday.
State and federal agents executed a search warrant at a storage facility in Seagoville on Saturday night, but they would not say whether that development was linked to Williams.
Williams was jailed after being arrested early Saturday morning.
Law enforcement sources confirmed to WFAA that Williams, 46, was picked up at his home and taken to the Kaufman County Jail. The jail website showed that he was booked at 12:32 a.m.
The arrest follows Friday's exhaustive search of his Kaufman home by federal agents.
Late Saturday, Kaufman County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Justin Lewis told News 8 that Williams has not been charged with the McLelland or Hasse murders and is not a suspect or a prime suspect.
FBI spokeswoman Katherine Chaumont in Seagoville echoed Lt. Lewis' statement.
"Now knowing that they arrested him on a terroristic threat charge, it could just be one of those things that he made comments to somebody and they are having to run down those leads," said legal expert and attorney Pete Schulte.
Bond was set at $3 million total; $1 million for the threat charge and $1 million each on two charges of "insufficient bond."
"To raise it as high as $1 million, the judge is like, 'You know the best place for Mr. Williams at this point is in jail until we can figure out what's going on,'" Schulte said.
As of late Saturday night, Williams had not been charged with any murders. Our calls to Williams' attorney were not returned.
Williams was convicted last year of stealing from the county. He lost his position as justice of the peace because of it.
Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse and District Attorney Mike McClelland are the two who prosecuted him. McLelland was murdered last month; Hasse was slain in January.
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While Eric Williams has links to both McLelland and Hasse, he has not been charged in connection with their deaths. The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office said no additional information about Williams' arrest would be forthcoming on Saturday.
Williams' attorney, David Sergi, issued this statement on Friday, before the arrest:
"He has cooperated with law enforcement and vigorously denies any and all allegations. He wishes simply to get on with his life and hopes that the perpetrators are brought to justice."
Earlier this month, Williams said he voluntarily submitted to a gun residue test and turned over his cellphone after authorities contacted him while investigating the deaths of the McLellands.
Sergi has said Williams also submitted to a gun residue test and gave his cellphone to authorities when he was questioned after Hasse's death.
Authorities have released little information about the case except to say they continue to follow leads, including possible ties to a white supremacist gang.
One month before Hasse's death, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a warning to authorities statewide that the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas could retaliate for an October indictment that targeted some of its leaders. McLelland's office was involved in that investigation.
Two other men have been arrested this month for "making a terroristic threat" in connection to the Kaufman County DA murder investigation.
Robert Miller is accused of threatening a county official on Facebook. Nick Morale is accused of leaving a threatening message on a telephone tip line set up to solicit information about the murders.
Miler and Morale both remain jailed on $1 million bond each.
A prayer walk is planned at the courthouse in Kaufman on Sunday afternoon on behalf of county workers and anyone else affected by the murders of two top officials. The walk is scheduled from noon until 1:30 p.m.
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Video at Link

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/21964652/fbi-searching-home-of
Ex-Kaufman Co. JP arrested after home searched
Posted April 12, 2013, Updated April 13, 2013

KAUFMAN, Texas -
Former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams was arrested and booked into jail early Saturday morning after state and federal agents searched his home.

Eric Lyle Williams, 46, is being held on a $3 million bond at Kaufman County Jail.

He is charged with one count of making a terroristic threat and two counts of insufficient bond relating to a theft and burglary conviction from last year. Each charge carries a $1 million bond. FOX 4 has attempted to contact authorities and Williams' attorney for comment about the charges.

Williams is not charged with the murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia, and Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse. Investigators have not named a person of interest in this triple murder investigation.
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Williams is a former Kaufman Co. JP who was tried by both prosecutor Mark Hasse and D.A. Mike McLelland and convicted of theft charges in 2012. He had to give up his JP seat due to the conviction.

Williams has been previously questioned by authorities, but has not been named a suspect in the McLelland case. His attorney issued a statement Friday night vigorously denying any allegations against his client.
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The search warrant was executed by the FBI, Kaufman County Sheriff's deputies and the Texas Rangers. All documents are sealed in this case.
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http://www.kvue.com/home/202933541.html
Weapons, vehicle seized in Kaufman murders probe
April 14, 2013

News 8 has learned that 20 weapons were recovered from a unit at a Seagoville self-storage locker in connection with the unsolved Kaufman County murders.
Sources said the locker had been rented on behalf of former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams, who is curently jailed on unrelated charges.
A source tells News 8 federal investigators are conducting ballistics tests on the weapons, which are similar to those used to kill Kaufman County prosecutor Mark Hasse on January 31 and District Attorney Mike McClelland and his wife Cynthia, who were found dead at their home on March 30.
Sources said investigators also seized a Ford Crown Victoria sedan from the storage facility that was allegedly purchased by Williams back in February under a false name.
Sources said they have surveillance video of that vehicle driving into and out of the McLellands' neighborhood on the day they were slain.
Eric Williams — a former justice of the peace in Kaufman — is the main suspect in the murder case, sources told News 8. Sources said they obtained enough probable cause to search his home and other properties after having Williams under surveillance and by getting subpoenas in this case.
Williams was convicted last year for stealing three county-owned computers. Mark Hasse and Mike McLelland prosecuted him.
Williams also had his license to practice law suspended following his conviction.
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Williams remains in the Kaufman County Jail on a $3 million bond after being arrested at his home early Saturday morning for allegedly making terroristic threats.
Video at Link

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Weapons-vehicle-seized-in-Kaufman-murder-probe-202925341.html
Sources: Williams linked to threatening e-mail
April 14, 2013

On March 31, the day after Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife were found dead in their Forney home, someone sent an anonymous e-mail threatening additional attacks, sources tell News 8.
That e-mail was traced back to former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams, according to those sources.
Williams is the main suspect in the murder case, sources say. He is currently jailed on unrelated charges and being held on $3 million bond.
News 8 has learned that 20 weapons were recovered from a unit at a Seagoville self-storage locker in connection with the unsolved Kaufman County murders. Sources said the locker had been rented on behalf of Eric Williams.
A source tells News 8 federal investigators are conducting ballistics tests on the weapons, which are similar to those used to kill Kaufman County prosecutor Mark Hasse on January 31 and District Attorney Mike McClelland and his wife Cynthia, who were found dead at their home on March 30.
Sources said investigators also seized a Ford Crown Victoria sedan from the storage facility that was allegedly purchased by Williams back in February under a false name.
Sources said they have surveillance video of that vehicle driving into and out of the McLellands' neighborhood on the day they were slain.
Sources said law enforcement officials obtained enough probable cause to search Williams' home and other properties after placing Williams under surveillance and by getting subpoenas in this case.
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Williams remains in the Kaufman County Jail on a $3 million bond after being arrested at his home early Saturday morning for allegedly making terroristic threats.
Video at Link

http://www.khou.com/news/local/montgomery-Inmate-accused-of-trying-to-hire-hitman-district-attorney-prosecutor-203012851.html
84-year-old woman charged in plot to ‘murder and maim’ Montgomery County prosecutors
April 15, 2013

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- An elderly inmate is accused of trying to hire a hitman to murder Montgomery County Assistant D.A. Robert Freyer and put D.A. Brett Ligon “in the hospital for two to three weeks.”
Officials on Monday identified the inmate as Dorothy Canfield, 84.
The district attorney’s office said Canfield was already behind bars on a second degree felony theft charge. A confidential informant led Texas Rangers to monitor Canfield’s communications.
Based on her alleged desire to hire a “hitman,” Canfield was given the name and phone number of an undercover Harris County District Attorney investigator. The investigator met with Canfield at the Montgomery County jail, officials said. During their conversation, Canfield agreed to pay the undercover officer $5,000 to kill Robert Freyer and $2,500 to put District Attorney Brett Ligon in the hospital for “two to three weeks.”
Early Monday, Canfield was interviewed by Texas Rangers, and she confessed to the plot, the D.A.’s office said.
Officials said prior to her confession, the Rangers showed her photographs from an unrelated crime scene and pretended that Robert Freyer had actually been killed. They said Dorothy Canfield showed no remorse.
The allegations come at a time of heightened security for district attorneys and their staffers across the state. It was late March when Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found dead in their North Texas home. Two months earlier, one of his assistant prosecutors was assassinated. Those murders are still under investigation, and no arrests have been made.
“Dorothy Canfield hoped to capitalize on the tragic murder of the Kaufman County District Attorney, his wife and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse to disrupt the prosecution of her theft charge in the most violent way possible,” stated District Attorney Brett Ligon. “Criminals that plot and threaten to harm those in law enforcement and prosecution need to know that we are watching. The Texas Rangers and other law enforcement agencies are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to protect public servants from these types of threats. And when you are caught, as Ms. Canfield has been, expect us to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law. We look forward to requesting a Montgomery County jury to give Ms. Canfield the justice she deserves.”

Canfield faces charges of solicitation to commit capital murder and solicitation to commit aggravated assault on a public servant.
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Video at Link

http://www.kvue.com/news/Kaufman-investigators-suspect-misuse-of-computer-systems-connected-to-murders-203229971.html
Kaufman investigators suspect misuse of computer systems connected to murders
April 16, 2013

Investigators obtained a warrant last week to search a former Kaufman County justice of the peace's home based on suspicion that he accessed the Internet using county usernames and access codes without permission.
County officials on Tuesday released the warrant that investigators served at Eric Williams' Kaufman home on Friday. It was signed by a state district judge at 1:05 p.m., about two hours before authorities entered the residence at 1600 Overlook Drive.
An inventory detailing what was found inside the homes of Williams and his nearby in-laws remains sealed. However, the warrant says investigators had probable cause that they'd find evidence concerning the murders of District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and his top prosecutor Mark Hasse.
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He has not been charged in the murders, but has emerged as a person of interest. Williams, 46, has vigorously denied playing a role in the slayings. His New Braunfels-based attorney David Sergi resigned over the weekend. Before resigning, the lawyer issued the below statement on behalf of his former client:
 
"Eric simply does not want any more comments to feed a media frenzy which seems to have overtaken him. As mentioned in the press release, he has cooperated with law enforcement and vigorously denies any and all allegations. He wishes simply to get on with his life and hopes that the perpetrators are brought to justice."
 
Investigators are awaiting ballistics testing on weapons found in a Seagoville storage locker that authorities say was rented on his behalf. Currently, Williams is in being held in the Kaufman County Jail on $3 million bond. He's charged with making a terroristic threat; authorities linked Williams to an anonymous email threatening more violence after the McLellands were found killed, according to an arrest warrant made public Monday.
According to the search warrant, investigators suspected they would find evidence related to the murders and to an abuse of official power, a violation that involves a public servant using his or her office to benefit, harm or defraud another person.
Says the warrant, the suspicion is "concerning misuse of Kaufman County usernames and access codes to access internet services."

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/wife-of-former-kaufman-county-justice-peace-eric-williams-arrested-on-capital-murder-charge-mike-mcklelland-da-203385451.html
Wife of former Kaufman County JP arrested on capital murder charge
April 17, 2013

KAUFMAN - Kim Williams, the 46-year-old wife of former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams, was arrested and charged with capital murder.
Authorities have not revealed whether the charge is related to her husband's arrest. She is currently being held at the Kaufman County Jail on a $10 million bond, sources said.
Over the weekend, Mr. Williams, 46, was arrested on a terroristic threat charge. Sources told News 8 evidence linked Mr. Williams to the murders of prosecutor Mark Hasse, 57, and District Attorney Mike McLelland, 63, and his wife Cynthia, 65.
He was arrested at his home early Saturday morning and is being held at the Kaufman County Jail on a $3 million bond.
Previous to Mrs. Williams' arrest, sources told News 8 authorities were awaiting ballistic test results on weapons found in a storage locker rented in Seagoville on behalf of the former justice of the peace. More than 20 weapons were found inside the locker.
Authorities also said they were able to trace a threatening e-mail sent to county officials the day after the McLellands were fatally shot in their home back to Mr. Williams. The e-mail, sent anonymously, threatened more attacks.
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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/17/kaufman-county-prosecutors-killings-texas-wife-arrested/2090215/
Wife of ousted official arrested in Texas DA killings
April 17, 2013

Kim Williams is married to an ousted county official who had been convicted by the slain prosecutors for theft of public property.

The wife of a former Texas justice of the peace was arrested Wednesday on capital murder charges in the killings of the Kaufman County district attorney, his wife and a second prosecutor, The Dallas Morning News reports.

Kim Williams, 46, is the wife Eric Williams, the ousted justice of the peace who had been convicted by the two slain prosecutors in 2012 on charges of theft of public property. She was being held at the Kaufman County Jail on a $10 million bond, WFAA-TV reported.

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Eric Williams was arrested last week on charges of making a terrorist threat and is being held on $3 million bond. The News says he was arrested after a threatening email was allegedly traced to him.

Authorities searched the Williams' home last week. They also searched a storage locker linked to Eric Williams and recovered at least 20 weapons and a white Ford similar to one reportedly shown on surveillance video the night of one of the McLelland killings.

http://www.khou.com/news/texas-news/kaufman-county-murders-charges-williams-203385431.html
Jailed wife of disgraced judge claims he was triggerman in Kaufman County killings
April 17, 2013

KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas --The wife of a former justice of the peace has been charged with three counts of capital murder for the shooting deaths of the Kaufman County DA, his wife and an assistant prosecutor.
Kim Lene Williams was arrested early Wednesday. Kaufman County sheriff’s spokesman Lt. Justin Lewis said Williams is being charged with all three deaths and being held on $10 million bond.
An affidavit released by the sheriff’s department Wednesday claims Mrs. Williams confessed that her husband was the person who pulled the trigger in all three shooting deaths.
Quoting from the affidavit: "Kim Williams described in detail her role along that of her husband, Eric Williams whom she reported to have shot to death Mark Hasse on January 31, 2013 and Michael and Cynthia McLelland on March 30, 2013."
The document alleges she told police details about the murders that were not made public.
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Mr. McLelland indicated to me very early on the day of Mark's murder that he felt like the person that needed to be investigated was Eric Williams," Wood said.
Williams is appealing his convictions.
In the sentencing phase of his trial, Kim Williams testified in her husband’s defense. She said she suffers from several illnesses, including rheumatoid arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome. She said her husband was her sole caregiver as well as the caregiver for her two ailing parents.
"Eric is a loving man," she testified. "He wouldn’t do anything to hurt anybody. I’m standing by him 100 percent."
Neighbors and coworkers described the couple as reserved. Some said Mr. Williams was a loner.　
"I would speak to him and it was like I was invisible, he never acknowledged I was there," said Diane Childs, a neighbor. "You would never think in real life that would be happening in your neighborhood."　
Kim Williams worked for Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Kaufman from May of 1999 until January of 2003.　
"I think a lot of us thought Mexican drug cartel or the Aryan Brotherhood, something like that," Childs said. "I never dreamed it would be three houses down from us."

Video at Link

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/22016100/ex-kaufman-jp-charged-with-murder-in-da-prosecutor-slayings
Ex-Kaufman JP charged with murder in DA, prosecutor slayings
April 18, 2013

Ex-justice of the peace Eric Williams has been charged with capital murder in the deaths of Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and Mark Hasse.

The charges were announced Thursday afternoon at a press conference and cap a stressful three months in normally quiet Kaufman County.

Williams is being held on a $23 million bond.

Williams' wife, Kim, was charged Wednesday with capital murder in the three killings. She confessed to authorities and said her husband Eric was the gunman.

At Thursday's press conference, authorities said Kim Williams was the getaway driver for the Hasse slaying outside the county courthouse. Kim Williams was a passenger for the McLelland murders.

Sources have told FOX4 that a storage facility Williams rented was filled with weapons and had a Crown Victoria that had been seen in the McLelland's neighborhood when they were gunned down.
 ::snipping2::

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-kaufman-county-20130419,0,196760.story
Couple charged with murder in killings of Texas officials
Eric Williams and his wife, Kim, are charged in the killings of an assistant district attorney and a district attorney and his spouse in Kaufman County, Texas.
April 28, 2013

The murder charges weren't for the white supremacists, even though they'd threatened to kill the Texas prosecutors threatening to put them away; nor were they for the cartels, even though they'd long ravaged law enforcement down in Mexico.

Instead, officials in Texas believe a trio of slayings near Dallas boiled down to simple revenge: A disgraced former justice of the peace and his wife stand accused of murdering the Texas prosecutors who ended his career.

Eric Lyle Williams, 46, was charged with capital murder Thursday, one day after his wife, Kim Lene Williams, 46, was similarly charged in two attacks that shocked Kaufman County and led to fears of an unprecedented assault on the rule of law in Texas.

Officials believe the couple worked together without outside help in killing Kaufman County Assistant Dist. Atty. Mark Hasse outside the County Courthouse in late January and Dist. Atty. Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, in their home March 30.

Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes said Thursday at a news conference that Eric Williams did the shooting and Kim Williams did the driving in Hasse's killing, and that she waited in the car while her husband killed the McLellands at their home.
 ::snipping2::
Before the attacks, officials said, Williams searched the Internet for information on Hasse and McLelland that would have included data on their homes and vehicles; a friend said he also had asked how to destroy the part of an AR-15 rifle, the upper receiver, that is commonly used to make matches in ballistic tests.

Byrnes said the case broke open when officials discovered a storage unit that Williams kept under a friend's name. It contained 41 guns — including pistols and AR-15-style rifles — and a white Ford Crown Victoria. Other weapons, including AR-15 rifles, were found at Williams' home. None of the rifles had upper receivers.

Officials found video from before and after the McLellands' deaths that apparently shows the Williams' Ford Explorer entering and leaving the storage facility for a car swap with the Crown Victoria, which was spotted in the McLellands' neighborhood on the day of the attack.

On Tuesday, during questioning, Kim Williams confessed to her role and that of her husband, officials said, and the capital murder charges followed. Under Texas law, suspected accomplices can be prosecuted for the same charges as a suspected perpetrator.

Eric Williams has been in the Kaufman County jail since Saturday, when officials arrested him on suspicion of making a "terroristic threat" against investigators from his personal computer the day after the McLellands' deaths. "The threat implied unless law enforcement responded to the demands of the writer, another attack would occur," police said in the affidavit establishing probable cause for his arrest.

"Eric Williams has always been on the radar," Byrnes said. "We talked to him immediately after Mark Hasse's death and also the night of the McLelland shooting.... We obviously had arrested Eric before on this other thing, and it's obviously not pleasant."

"[He] used to be a reserve officer for me," Byrnes added. "So it's very distasteful, to say the least."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57580448-504083/mike-mclelland-murder-update-storage-unit-led-to-arrests-in-da-deaths/
Mike McLelland Murder Update: Storage unit led to arrests in DA deaths
April 19, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Former justice of the peace, Eric Lyle Williams, and his wife, Kim Williams, are charged with capital murder in the fatal shootings of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, and assistant prosecutor Mark Hasse.

Investigators say the prosecutors had been concerned that Williams might be a threat to them after they successfully prosecuted him for theft last year, even going to the extent of carrying handguns following Williams' conviction. Williams was sentenced to two years' probation, lost his law license and his elected position as justice of the peace - a judge who handles mostly administrative duties.

Hasse was shot by a masked gunman in January as he made his way to his courthouse office. The McLellands were gunned down two months later at their rural home.

Sheriff David Byrnes told reporters Thursday that while Williams "has always been on the radar" - investigators questioned him after Hasse's slaying and again after the McLellands' deaths - authorities did not have the evidence to tie everything together until they found the storage unit. Authorities say a friend of Williams' told them about the weapons.

"The discovery of the storage locker probably was the watershed event that put us on to this," Byrnes said.

Authorities allege Eric Williams, 46, was the gunman in all of the slayings. They say his wife, who is also 46, was the getaway driver when her husband shot Hasse. They contend she was a passenger when her husband drove to the McLellands' home to carry out those killings early on the morning of March 30.

"Basically, this was a collaborative effort between Eric Williams and his wife," Byrnes said.

Eric Williams is being held on $23 million bail, and his wife is being held on $3 million bail. Online jail records do not indicate attorneys representing the couple.

Criminal defense attorneys Toby Shook and Bill Wirskye, both former Dallas County prosecutors, have been appointed as special prosecutors.

According to an arrest warrant, a friend of Williams' contacted authorities last week and told them the former justice of the peace had told him he needed to rent a storage unit to hide some items because of his ongoing legal problems.

Investigators searched the unit in Seagoville on Saturday and found a Crown Victoria matching security video of a car in the McLellands' neighborhood the day they were killed, according to the warrant. Williams used a false name to purchase the Crown Victoria in February, the affidavit said.

They also found guns, including eight .223-caliber weapons, authorities said. Investigators believe a .223-caliber firearm was used in the killings of the McLellands. Ammunition consistent with that used both in Hasse's and the McLellands' slayings was also found in the storage locker, according to the warrant.

Investigators also traced emails to a computer in Williams' home in which the author confessed to all three slayings and threatened more violence against county officials, the warrant says. Williams was arrested Saturday and charged with making a terroristic threat in connection with that email.

Kim Williams was arrested Wednesday. An arrest affidavit contends she confessed to the killings and told investigators her husband was the gunman.

Williams was elected to his judicial post in 2010 after practicing law in the county east of Dallas for a decade. He previously served as a peace officer in five North Texas cities and two counties, including Kaufman, according to records obtained by The Associated Press from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. As recently as December 2010, he was a reserve officer in the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department.

During his theft trial, McLelland and Hasse portrayed Williams as a dishonest public official with a dangerous streak. The prosecutors presented evidence during closing arguments indicating Williams had made death threats against another local attorney and a former girlfriend.

Williams has appealed the conviction, and on March 29 - a day before the McLellands' bodies were found - a state appeals court in Dallas agreed to hear oral arguments in the case.

Marcus Busch, a U.S. Justice Department attorney who worked with Hasse in the Dallas district attorney's office and later went into private practice with him, said he was stunned by the arrests.

"I just don't understand how somebody in a white-collar case who received probation decides to throw away his own life with the senseless murder of people who were simply doing their jobs," Busch said.

http://www.dentonrc.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20130425-bill-to-keep-grand-jurors-names-secret.ece
Bill to keep grand jurors’ names secret
April 25, 2013

The Texas Senate recently approved a bill that would make every facet of a grand jury membership secret, including the names of the grand jurors.
An analysis of Senate Bill 834, introduced by Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, cites similar secrecy for members of federal grand juries and state grand juries in Arizona, Florida, New York and Utah.
In an interview Wednesday, Estes said he was working with the North Texas Crime Commission on the legislation.
“My whole aspect in this is to make sure people who serve in this capacity are safe,” Estes said.
He pointed to the popularity of smartphones and social media, saying those tools could help someone discover more after knowing a grand juror’s name. He said the Kaufman County murders showed the need for the law, although SB 834 was filed Feb. 26, nearly a month before District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were shot. Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was shot Jan. 31.
In 1999, Texas shielded the personal information of grand jurors, including address, and telephone, Social Security and driver’s license numbers. But unlike federal law and the laws governing grand juries in most other states, Texas still allows the key-man system of grand jury selection.
The method, used in counties throughout much of the state, uses a judge-appointed commission — not random selection — to determine who sits on grand juries.
The U.S. Supreme Court has long held that the key-man system is constitutional but vulnerable to abuse. Court rulings and academic studies have found the system tends to favor the powerful and disenfranchise racial minorities, the poor, women and the young. Those factors led other states and the federal government to abandon the system in favor of a more random process.
Only Texas and California still permit key-man.
The Texas Bar Association has not taken a position on the bill, according to Kim Davey, the group’s public information director.
But the Texas Press Association opposes the bill, according to Donnis Baggett, the trade group’s executive vice president.
“We stand for open government in every branch,” Baggett said. “The judicial system starts with the grand jury. In a free society, we are not supposed to have secret tribunals. We aren’t supposed to have that kind of justice.”
A defendant should be indicted and tried by a jury of his or her peers, he added.
“How are you to know that if the names are kept secret?” Baggett said.
After the bill was heard in committee, senators added another subsection that would allow the defendant’s attorney to request demographic information — names, races, ethnicities and genders of the grand jurors — if the attorney intended to challenge the grand jury’s array.
Estes said the committee worked with criminal defense attorneys to carve out that exception, but he acknowledged it limited the disclosure to the defense team, which would not be allowed to reveal that information to any other party.
Baggett said that compromise does nothing for the civic-minded public.
“They have a need for that information as well,” Baggett said.
More...

http://www.kaufmanherald.com/news/article_65a405a8-b7fc-11e2-8b23-001a4bcf887a.html
Legal counsel appointed for Eric, Kim Williams
May 8, 2013

Eric and Kim Williams have been appointed legal counsel to represent them against capital murder charges.
Capital murder has only two sentences, if either or both are found guilty — either life in prison without possibility of parole … or death.
Dallas attorney Paul Johnson has been appointed to represent Kim Williams.
The Regional Public Defender for Capital Cases group will represent Eric Williams.
The couple is charged with the murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia and of assistant district attorney Mark Hasse.
Hasse was shot killed on the morning of Jan. 31 as he walked from a county employee parking lot to the county courthouse where he worked for McLelland as a felony prosecutor.
The McLellands were shot and killed in their home on March 30.
 ::snipping3::
On April 15, Kim Williams was arrested on capital murder charges, later confessing to investigators that she drove the getaway car during the Hasse murder and that she was a passenger in the vehicle during the McLelland murders.
She said Eric Williams was the gunman at both scenes.
Kim Williams remains in the Kaufman County Law Enforcement Center in lieu of $10 million bond, while her husband is also held there in lieu of $23 million bond.

http://www.statesman.com/ap/ap/crime/couple-indicted-in-slaying-of-texas-prosecutors/nYXkh/
Couple indicted in slaying of Texas prosecutors
June 27, 2013

KAUFMAN, Texas — A former justice of the peace and his wife were indicted on capital murder charges Thursday in the deaths of two North Texas prosecutors who were fatally shot earlier this year, one outside the local courthouse and the other inside his home with his wife.
Eric and Kim Williams were each indicted by a Kaufman County grand jury for the deaths of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse, District Attorney Mike McLelland and McLelland's wife, Cynthia.
The couple was arrested in April for what prosecutors allege was a meticulous plot to avenge Eric Williams' conviction for stealing three county computer monitors in 2012.
The Williamses, who are both 46, have been in the county jail southeast of Dallas since their arrests. Eric Williams is being held on a $23 million bond, while his wife's bond is $10 million. Capital murder charges can bring the death penalty in Texas.
Hasse was fatally shot as he walked to work in January, while the McLellands were gunned down in their home two months later.
More...

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/kaufman-county-killings-eric-kim-williams-mclelland-hasse-hearing-217094421.html
Eric Williams faces death penalty in Kaufman County murder case
July 26, 2013

 ::snipping3::
Eric Williams and his wife Kim were indicted late last month on a pair of capital murder charges in the brazen killings of District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and Assistant DA Mark Hasse. The state announced it would pursue the death penalty against Mr. Williams in a Friday morning hearing that lasted about five minutes in Kaufman County's south campus courtroom.
Mrs. Williams also appeared in court and acknowledged the charges against her. The state has not determined whether it will seek the death penalty in her case. That decision will come next week.
Dallas County Judge Michael Snipes, who was appointed to hear the case, tentatively set jury selection in Mr. Williams' trial for spring of 2014. The trial itself is scheduled to begin in October 2014. After the arrests, Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes called capital punishment a "viable option" should the district attorney decide to pursue it.
County Judge Bruce Wood told News 8's David Schechter he wants the trial held in Kaufman. The defense will seek a change of venue, arguing that the Williamses will not be able to have a fair trial if it's held in the county.
The Williamses, both 46, have been in custody at the Kaufman County jail since their arrests in April. Eric Williams is jailed on $23 million bond while Kim is held on $10 million bond.
Investigators say the couple planned the assassination style murders following the aggressive conviction of Eric Williams in 2012 for stealing county computer equipment from the IT department. After he was found guilty, Williams lost his law license and his job at the county. He testified it would be difficult to care for his wife without health benefits afforded by his job.
On Jan. 31, Hasse was gunned down on his way into the Kaufman County Courthouse spurring a monthslong search for those responsible. Nearly two months to the day later, the McLellands were found shot dead inside their Forney home.
According to affidavits unsealed after Mr. Williams was arrested, McLelland and Hasse both feared for their safety and began carrying guns after convicting Williams. Following Hasse’s murder, Judge Wood said that the district attorney expressed concern that Williams was behind the fatal shooting.
Investigators also found weapons that fire similar caliber bullets to what was used in each murder at a storage locker Mr. Williams was seen using and at the couple's household. Williams is also accused of using the county’s Lexis/Nexis account to research driver’s license records and address information belonging to those he is accused of killing. 
The two were indicted on capital murder charges on June 27.

Good   ::justice2nj2::   ::MonkeyHang::

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/judge-approves-change-of-venue-eric-williams-murder-district-attorney-kaufman-241820681.html
Change of venue for trial of suspect in murders of Kaufman County DA, 2 others
January 24, 2014

DALLAS— A judge ordered a change of venue for the trial of the suspect in the murders of a Kaufman County district attorney, his wife and the assistant district attorney.
 ::snipping3::
In an agreement between prosecutors and the defense team Friday, Eric Williams' trial was moved from Kaufman County to Rockwall County. It will take place on Oct. 20, 2014.
In June 2013, Williams, 46, and his wife Kim, 47, were indicted on capital murder charges in the deaths of District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse. The state announced in July they will seek the death penalty in the Williams case.
Prosecutors haven't revealed whether they will seek the death penalty in the capital murder case against Williams' wife.
According to investigators, Williams and his wife planned the murders after he was terminated from his job as the justice of the peace following a theft conviction. Williams was found guilty of stealing computer equipment from the county's IT department. After the conviction, he also lost his law license.
Hasse was gunned down in the parking lot of the Kaufman County Courthouse on Jan. 31, 2013. McLelland vowed to find the person or persons responsible in the shooting, but he and his wife were found shot dead about two months later inside their home.
 ::snipping3::
In July 2013, County Judge Bruce Wood said he wanted the trial held in Kaufman County. However, Williams' defense team argued the former justice of the peace would be unable to receive a fair trial in the county.
In June 2013, on the same day the couple was indicted, Williams' wife filed for divorce, which is pending.

http://www.kltv.com/story/24766987/dive-team-searching-lake-for-weapons-used-in-kaufman-co-da-slayings


Dive team searching lake for weapons used in Kaufman Co. DA slayings
Posted: Feb 19, 2014 2:26 PM CST Updated: Feb 19, 2014 2:31 PM CST
By Whitley Walden - email
 

KAUFMAN COUNTY, TX (KLTV) - A dive team is searching an East Texas lake Wednesday for weapons used in the March 2013 slayings of the Kaufman County district attorney, his wife and the assistant district attorney.

A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a Texas Department of Public Safety dive team is searching Lake Tawakoni after receiving a tip that weapons used in the crime may be located in the water. The official spoke anonymously because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation.

A DPS spokesmen and Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes confirmed that the search was taking place, but declined to say if it was linked to the case.

 ::snipping3::

Former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams and his wife, Kim Williams, were arrested in April 2013 for their alleged involvement in the crime. Both are charged with capital murder and could face the death penalty if convicted. Jury selection for their trials is set to begin this Spring.

Lake Tawakoni is located thirty miles southwest of Sulphur Springs.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/24787685/judge-denies-request-to-delay-trial-for-kaufman-county-killings
Judge denies request to delay trial for Kaufman County killings
February 21, 2014

ROCKWALL, Texas -
 ::snipping3::

Eric Williams is charged with capital murder for the March 2013 deaths of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, in their home. Assistant DA Mark Hasse was killed outside the Kaufman County courthouse in January 2013.

It was the first hearing for Williams since his attorneys asked for a change of venue from Kaufman to Rockwall County.

The defense attorneys asked for a delay in the case, but the judge denied that request.

Williams' wife, Kim, is also charged with capital murder.

Related to the case, sources told the Associated Press that investigators took boats out on Lake Tawakoni on Wednesday to search for gun parts.

Divers reportedly spent hours searching the lake for evidence linked to the murders, but did not find anything.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/25098480/jury-selection-begins-for-kaufman-county-slayings
Jury selection begins for Kaufman County slayings
March 28, 2014

KAUFMAN COUNTY, Texas -
Jury selection begins in the murder trial of a man charged with killing the Kaufman County district attorney, his wife and another prosecutor.

Former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams is charged with capital murder for the shooting deaths of Kaufman County DA Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and Assistant DA Mark Hasse.

Hasse was killed outside the Kaufman County Courthouse in January of last year. A massive search started and fears ran rampant in the community.

The McLellands were killed in their home two months later, sparking more fears and outrage.

Police believe Williams wanted revenged after a theft case against him cost him his office and law license.

Due to the amount of attention the case got and the sensitivity in Kaufman County, the trial has already been moved to Rockwall County.
 
::snipping3::

Final jury selection will likely take place in August. The trial is set for Oct. 20.

Williams' now estranged wife Kim is also charged with capital murder in the cases. She will be tried separately.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/3000-summoned-to-court-as-jury-kaufman-county-252953361.html
3,000 summoned as jury selection begins in Kaufman County murders
March 28, 2014

ROCKWALL — Three-thousand people — or roughly 4 percent of Rockwall County’s residents — were summoned to the courthouse Friday morning as the long process of picking a jury begins in the Kaufman County prosecutor slayings.

The capital murder case of Eric Williams, a former justice of the peace, was moved to Rockwall County because of the extraordinary amount of publicity the case has received. Williams is accused of killing the district attorney, his wife and a top assistant last year

Dallas County District Judge Mike Snipes, who is presiding over the case, is using what’s known as a “big panel” procedure. This involves summoning a larger than normal pool of people to fill out jury questionnaires.
 ::snipping3::

Potential jurors filled out 28-page questionnaires that included detailed questions about their views on the death penalty, the criminal justice system and law enforcement. It also asked potential jurors whether they knew anybody connected to the case, including prosecutors, defense attorneys, or the victims.

From that large pool of people, prosecutors and defense attorneys will winnow it down to a much smaller group of people. Formal jury selection is scheduled to begin in May. It’s expected to be completed in August.

Snipes has scheduled the trial to begin in October, although Williams’ defense attorneys have sought to delay court proceedings citing the enormous amount of work to be done.

Williams is being held in the Kaufman County jail in lieu of $23 million bail.

His wife, Kim, has also been charged with capital murder. She is being in the Kaufman County jail. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek the death penalty against her.
The killings garnered national attention, beginning with the Jan. 31, 2013, slaying of assistant Kaufman County prosecutor Mark Hasse, 57. He was gunned down as he walked to the downtown Kaufman courthouse.

District Attorney Mike McLelland, 63, and his wife, Cynthia, 65, were slain Forney home over the Easter weekend.

A grand jury indicted Mr. and Mrs. Williams in June.

Authorities believe the couple began plotting the murders after McLelland and Hasse prosecuted Eric Williams in a theft and burglary case that resulted in his removal as a justice of the peace in 2012. Eric Williams also was stripped of his law license. A judge sentenced him to probation in that case.
 

http://inforney.com/crime/item/1700-dps-dive-team-recovers-two-handguns-linked-to-mark-hasse-murder-kim-williams
DPS dive team recovers two handguns linked to Mark Hasse murder and Kim Williams
April 2, 2014

FORNEY, Texas – A Texas Department of Public Safety dive team has recovered two handguns from a underwater search of Lake Tawakoni along the Highway 276 “two mile bridge” in Hunt County.
According to a search warrant affidavit signed by Dallas County District Judge Mike Snipes, who is the visiting judge presiding over the Eric Williams murder trial in Rockwall County, the pistols were found by the dive team on or about March 5, 2014.

The affidavit does not link Eric Williams to either of the weapons found. However, the search warrant was signed on April 1, 2014, to allow investigators to search a black tote bag with a master lock which was recovered from an office building in Kaufman, Texas, on March 26, 2014, which was formerly rented by Eric Williams.

The locked black tote bag was covered with "no smoking" and "bullet hole" stickers. A second unlocked black tote was also recovered in Kaufman. That tote contained picture frames and packages of new CD-R's.

One of the pistols recovered from the lake has been linked to Kim Williams. According to the affidavit, an investigation by the ATF revealed it was purchased by Kim Williams “many years ago.”

The other pistol recovered from the lake has been identified as a Ruger .357 capable of firing .38 special rounds. Forensic testing concluded the Ruger was used to kill Mark Hasse on Thursday, January 31, 2013.

According to the affidavit, to date, the .223 caliber weapon used to kill the McLellands in their Forney, Texas, area home has not been located by investigators. Investigators believe the locked tote recovered in Kaufman, Texas, is large enough to conceal potential evidence including a .223 caliber weapon and/or an AR-15 style .223 caliber upper.

The locked tote is currently in the possession of the Texas Rangers at their Texas Department of Public Safety Lab in Garland, Texas, the contents of which remain unknown at this time.

 ::snipping3::
Eric Williams' trial was moved to Rockwall County were jury selection began on March 28, 2014. The trial is scheduled to begin October 20, 2014.

http://www.kansascity.com/2014/04/02/4931629/official-weapon-found-linked-to.html
Official: Weapon found linked to prosecutor death
April 2, 2014

DALLAS — A dive team has recovered a weapon from a North Texas lake that authorities say was used in the fatal shooting of a prosecutor last year, authorities said Wednesday.

The gun was linked to the January 2013 slaying of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse outside a courthouse in Kaufman County, southeast of Dallas. A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation said a dive team found the weapon in Lake Tawakoni, 50 miles east of Dallas, earlier this year.

Two guns were found in the lake, concealed inside a black mask, the official said.

 ::snipping3::
Two months after Hasse's killing, District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found shot dead in their home.

Former county Justice of the Peace Eric Williams and his wife, Kim, face capital murder charges in the deaths of Hasse, the district attorney and his wife. The two are scheduled for trial later this year.

Authorities believe Eric Williams bore a grudge against McLelland and Hasse for successfully prosecuting him for stealing three county-owned computer monitors. That conviction would cost Williams his job as a justice of the peace and his law license.

While investigators have found several weapons in a storage locker used by Eric Williams, those weapons had not been linked by testing to the crime before the dive team's search.
 ::snipping3::

http://www.kvue.com/news/state/Gun-linked-to-death-of-Kaufman-County-assistant-DA-found-in-lake-253608171.html
Gun linked to death of Kaufman County assistant DA found in lake
April 2, 2014

KAUFMAN — State police divers have recovered a weapon from Lake Tawakoni that forensic testing shows was used to assassinate Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse last year  – a find expected be a linchpin in the prosecution of former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams.
 
The gun, as well as a second gun and black mask, were recovered March 5 as divers with the Texas Department of Public Safety searched along the Highway 276 “two mile bridge” area in Hunt County, according to an search warrant affidavit obtained by News 8. The lake is located about 40 miles northeast of Kaufman.
 
That second gun has been directly linked through purchase records to Williams’ wife, Kim, the records state.
 
DPS divers periodically searched around the lake in grids for months as investigators continued to build their case against Williams.
 
Eric and Kim Williams have been accused in the slaying of Hasse, 57 on Jan. 31, 2013. He was gunned down by a masked man as he walked to the downtown Kaufman courthouse. District Attorney Mike McLelland, 63, and his wife Cynthia, 65, were slain in their Forney home over the Easter weekend.
 
 ::snipping3::
 
According to the warrant authored by Kaufman County Sheriff’s Sgt. Mark Woodall, the Hasse murder weapon is a Ruger .357 capable of firing .38-caliber special rounds, the warrant states. Hasse was killed by .38-caliber rounds.
 
“Affiant has learned that recent forensic testing of this Ruger pistol has revealed that this pistol was the same pistol from which that bullets that killed Mark Hasse were fired,” the affidavit states.
 
Investigators have since determined with the help of ATF that the second gun was purchased by Kim Williams many years ago, the warrant states.
 
Woodall obtained the search warrant so that authorities could search a padlocked black tote bag to determine if there was any evidence connected to the killings. Investigators recovered the bag on March 26 from an office where Eric Williams had previously rented space, the warrant states.  The bag is covered with bullet hole stickers and no smoking stickers.
 
Last year, during a search of a Seagoville storage unit, authorities found dozen of weapons, ammunition and a Crown Victor sedan believed to have been used in the McLelland slayings. Police found a title to the Crown Victoria during a search last year of Williams’ home, according to court documents.
 
Williams had asked a friend to secretly rent the storage unit, authorities say.
 
Inside the storage unit, authorities found a live .223 round that matched spent shell cases found at the McLelland crime scene.  Woodall also wrote in the warrant that investigators have not yet recovered the weapon used to kill the McLellands.
 
Woodall’s warrant also revealed for the first time that authorities found “two jars believed to be filled with homemade napalm” inside the unit. Court documents had previously revealed that authorities found a homemade incendiary device “capable of, and believed intended for, evidence destruction.”
 
Authorities believe the couple began plotting the murders after McLelland and Hasse prosecuted Williams in a theft and burglary case that resulted in his removal as a justice of the peace in 2012. Williams also was stripped of his law license. A judge sentenced him to probation in that case.
Attorneys for Williams have sought to delay court proceedings in the case, citing the massive amount of evidence collected in the case. The case has been moved to Rockwall County.
 
Dallas County District Judge Mike Snipes is presiding over the case after a Kaufman County judge recused himself.
 
Last Friday, the long process of selecting a jury in the capital murder case began when thousands of people were summoned to the Rockwall County courthouse to fill out questionnaires. Formal jury selection is slated to begin in May. The judge has said he wants to have a jury picked by August.
 
The trial has been scheduled to start in October.

Eric Williams is currently being held in the Kaufman County jail on $23 million bail.

(BBM) Dorothy Canfield tried to set it up for her planned "hit" to be associated with that of Mike McLelland and his wife in an attempt to throw off  investigators.  ::MonkeyNoNo::

http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/31/6081819/elderly-woman-suspect-nicknamed.html
Elderly woman suspect nicknamed ‘No Soul’
August 31, 2014

CONROE — The 85-year-old Willis woman wearing a pink-striped jail suit sat emotionless in her wheelchair last week in a Montgomery County courtroom, as prosecutors painted a portrait of her that was far from the grandmotherly figure she resembled.

Dorothy Clark Canfield had already pleaded guilty to trying to hire a hitman to maim the district attorney there and kill his chief prosecutor. She had also pleaded guilty to stealing $100,000 from illegal immigrants, which authorities say she squandered on everything from skydiving to spa beauty treatments. As a result, Canfield was facing up to life in prison for the criminal solicitations of capital murder and aggravated assault and up to 20 years for the immigrant theft scam.

Before the prosecution rested its case in the punishment phase Thursday, Lisa Tanner, an assistant Texas attorney general handling the case, reminded the court how Canfield, whom jail inmates said had been nicknamed “No Soul,” had been recorded telling an undercover officer posing as a hitman how she was eagerly “looking forward” to seeing his job completed within a day after they talked.

Canfield had first only wanted the assistant prosecutor handling her immigrant scam case “knocked off” but then added Montgomery County’s DA, Brett Ligon, to the “contract” — hoping investigators might link it to the murders in 2013 of another Texas district attorney, his wife and chief prosecutor in Kaufman County. That case was initially thought to possibly involve the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, which had been vigilantly prosecuted by a task force that included Montgomery and Kaufman counties.

“It was a scary time,” Ligon said, recalling how he had required a security detail for a while until a disgruntled Kaufman justice of the peace who had been convicted of theft was found to be the culprit.
 ::snipping3::
Ligon also took the stand to testify that any effort to attack an elected public servant threatens the very fabric of the order of law and should not be tolerated.

The plot to hire a hitman was spawned in the Montgomery County Jail after Canfield heard TV reports about the killings of the two Kaufman County prosecutors that made her smile, two cellmates testified.

One of them, Kristen Kimmel, said that afterward Canfield pestered her to help find someone to “knock off” her own prosecutor. Kimmel testified tearfully that she had done some bad things in her life, but had never participated in murder.

In an audio recording, she tries to dissuade Canfield. But Canfield said she was old and wanted out of jail. “I’ve been here before. If I have to come back, it won’t be much difference,” she said.

Through Kimmel, she contacted the officer she thought was a hitman and they spoke by phone and then in person at the jail, where he went as a visitor.

She was also recorded admitting to scamming immigrants for thousands of dollars, pretending to help them get citizenship papers but providing them nothing. “I love pretty clothes. I love fancy living, and that takes money to do,” she said on the tape.

Another cellmate, Glenna Jones, testified that Canfield also said she wanted to see a daughter-in-law killed because she had influenced her son against helping her.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/09/02/prosecutors-man-eric-williams-mclelland-kaufman-district-slayings-killings/14962471/
Prosecutors: Man accused of Kaufman killings had more targets
September 2, 2014


KAUFMAN — Eric Williams, the disbarred justice of the peace accused in last year's Kaufman County prosecutor slayings, had other targets that he wanted to assassinate, prosecutors revealed for the first time Tuesday.

Among those targets were the current Kaufman County district attorney and his one-time boss.

Documents filed Tuesday morning don't reveal why Williams would have wanted to kill District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley, who served as a county court at law judge prior to being sworn in after District Attorney Mike McLelland's death.

It also doesn't explain why he would have wanted to kill former District Judge Glen Ashworth, who Williams had worked with as a court coordinator prior to getting his law degree. The records indicate he planned to kill Ashworth as far back as 2005.

Eric and Kim Williams have been accused in the slaying of Hasse on Jan. 31, 2013. At age 57, Hasse was gunned down by a masked man as he walked to the downtown Kaufman courthouse.

Mike McLelland, 63, and his wife Cynthia, 65, were slain in their Forney home over the Easter weekend. McLelland and Hasse had prosecuted Williams in a burglary and theft case the year before.

Special prosecutors, Bill Wirskye and Toby Shook, are seeking the death penalty for Mr. Williams.

The documents confirm what has long been suspected, which is that Mrs. Williams will testify for the prosecution when her estranged husband goes on trial Dec. 1. She's listed on the prosecution's witness list.

The paperwork, filed by Wirskye, contain other startling revelations:

That Mr. Williams called in a false Crime Stoppers tip nearly a month after the Hasse murder in an apparent effort to put investigators on the wrong track.
That Mr. Williams impersonated a police officer during the McLelland slayings.
That Mr. Williams threw a phone, a mask and two revolvers into Lake Tawakoni on the day of the McLelland murders. Forensic testing confirmed one of the revolvers was used to kill Hasse. The mask was worn by Mr. Williams during the Hasse murder.
That Mr. Williams sent a message to Crime Stoppers on the day of the McLelland murders. The message claimed "credit for both murders" and "contained facts about the Hasse murder only the true murderer would know," according to the court records.
Investigators had previously revealed that threats of future attacks had been made in that message. The writer of that message had threatened future violence if the writer's demands weren't met. Authorities haven't detailed those demands.

In the court filings, Wirskye laid out the case for why prosecutors believe the murders of Hasse and McLelland are inextricably linked.

There was only one common "denominator" between Hasse and McLelland – and that was Mr. Williams, he wrote.

"Mark Hasse and Mike McLelland only tried one case together – the hotly contested Eric Williams burglary case which was tried approximately nine months before the Hasse murder," Wirskye wrote.

Wirskye listed other connections, including:

That Mr. Williams rented a storage unit about a month before the Hasse murder, "which the evidence shows served as a base of operations for both murders." Access logs show the storage unit was accessed shortly before and shortly after both Hasse and McLelland murders.
That Mr. Williams bought a "getaway car" shortly before each murder. Officials have since recovered both vehicles.
That Mr. Williams used a Lexis-Nexis account, an information database, to search for information on McLelland and Hasse prior to the Hasse slaying.
The document reveals that testing shows that a set of "shooters earplugs" found in the Hasse getaway vehicle had Mr. Williams' DNA on them.

A gunshot residue test taken on the day of the McLelland murders found "results consistent with handling firearms," the records state.

The investigation hasn't found any reason why Mrs. McLelland was killed other than she was Mr. McLelland's wife, according to the filings.

Authorities contend the couple began plotting the murders after McLelland and Hasse successfully prosecuted Williams, which resulted in his removal as a justice of the peace in 2012. Williams also was stripped of his law license. A judge sentenced him to probation in that case.

With the help of Mrs. Williams, state police divers recovered the mask, revolvers and cellphone from Lake Tawakoni on March 5. The lake is located about 40 miles northeast of Kaufman.

Last year, during a search of a Seagoville storage unit, authorities found dozen of weapons, homemade napalm, a makeshift incendiary device, ammunition and a Crown Victoria sedan believed to have been used in the McLelland slayings. Police found a title to the Crown Victoria during a search last year of Williams' home, according to previously filed court documents.

Inside the storage unit, authorities found a live .223 round that matched spent shell cases found at the McLelland crime scene. Investigators haven't yet recovered the weapon use to kill the McLellands.

Citing the massive amount of evidence collected in the case, attorneys for Williams have sought to delay court proceedings in the case. The case has been moved to Rockwall County.
 ::snipping3::

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/09/11/fbi-crime-home-jp-eric-williams-kaufman-murders/15435363/
FBI searching for evidence at Eric Williams' home
September 11, 2014

KAUFMAN -- An FBI crime scene team is currently searching the home and yard of Eric Williams, the disbarred justice of the peace accused in last year's Kaufman County prosecutor murders.

The search comes one day before a court hearing in which Williams' attorneys will ask a judge to further delay his December trial.

Eric and Kim Williams have been accused in the slaying of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse on Jan. 31, 2013. Hasse, 57, was gunned down by a masked man as he walked to the downtown Kaufman courthouse.

District Attorney Mike McLelland, 63, and his wife Cynthia, 65, were slain in their Forney home over Easter weekend. McLelland and Hasse had prosecuted Williams in a burglary and theft case the year before.

Among the items the FBI team may be looking for is the assault weapon used in the McLelland killings. With the help of Kim Williams, authorities have already recovered the gun used in the Hasse's murder earlier his year from Lake Tawakoni.

An FBI spokeswoman said the Dallas-based evidence response team is assisting the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department.

"We can confirm law enforcement activity at this address," Kaufman County Sheriff's Capt. Fred Klingelberger said.
The Williams' home, located in a quiet subdivision, was previously searched by police after the murders.

Special prosecutors, Bill Wirskye and Toby Shook, are seeking the death penalty for Eric Williams.

Last week in court filings, prosecutors disclosed for the first time that Eric Williams had other assassination targets including current District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley, and his one-time boss, retired state District Judge Glen Ashworth.

When Eric Williams goes on trial, he is being tried on the indictment for the McLellands.

Prosecutors contend the murders of Hasse and Mike McLelland are inextricably linked and are seeking to introduce evidence and details related to the Hasse case during the trial.

Authorities contend the couple began plotting the murders after McLelland and Hasse successfully prosecuted Williams, which resulted in his removal as a justice of the peace in 2012. Williams also was stripped of his law license. A judge sentenced him to probation in that case.

 ::snipping3::

Jury selection begins later this month.

Eric Williams is currently being held in the Rockwall County Jail.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/26506809/fbi-searching-outside-kaufman-county-murder-suspects-home
FBI search outside Kaufman County murder suspect’s home
September 11, 2014

(http://i.imgur.com/W7leHVu.jpg) (http://imgur.com/W7leHVu)

KAUFMAN, Texas - FBI investigators searched the home of murder suspect Eric Williams in Kaufman Thursday morning.

Sources said they were looking for evidence – specifically an upper from an AR-15. Video from SKY 4 showed them with shovels digging in a wooded area near a fence.
 ::snipping3::
The search only lasted for a few hours. The investigators did not find what they were looking for.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/26516020/kaufman-county-slayings-suspect-to-ask-for-trial-delay
Kaufman County slayings suspect to ask for trial delay
September 12, 2014

(http://i.imgur.com/n3xHs4r.jpg) (http://imgur.com/n3xHs4r)
(The victims, from left to right:  District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife Cynthia and Asst. District Attorney Mark Hasse)

(http://i.imgur.com/nzDkiWA.jpg) (http://imgur.com/nzDkiWA)
(Eric and Kim Williams)

KAUFMAN, Texas - Lawyers for the man accused of killing prosecutors in Kaufman County may ask for another delay in his trial.

Eric Williams is expected to make the request in court Friday morning.

His trial has already been moved from Kaufman to Rockwall County and was set for December.
 ::snipping3::

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/09/12/kaufman-prosecutor-kilings/15535665/
Judge denies request to delay trial in Kaufman County prosecutor killings case
September 12, 2014

ROCKWALL — It was a subdued, much thinner Eric Williams that appeared in a Rockwall County courtroom room Friday.

The former justice of the peace stands accused of killing Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia and prosecutor Mark Hasse last year.

"A prosecutor getting murdered is a very unique event in this country," special prosecutor Bill Wirskye, said in court. "When two get murdered in the same office in a two-month period of time, it's unprecedented."

Williams is being tried on the capital murder indictment for Cynthia McLelland. His attorneys were in court seeking a delay of his December trial.

"The amount of evidence that we have received in this case is enormous," said defense attorney Matthew Seymour. "We have a lot work yet to be done on this case for us to adequately prepare and we simply need more time."

State District Judge Michael Snipes, who is presiding over the case, denied the request, saying the defense has had ample time to prepare. He trial would begin as scheduled Dec. 1.
Hasse, 57, was gunned down by a masked man in late January 2013 as he walked to the downtown Kaufman courthouse. The McLellands were slain in their Forney home over Easter weekend.

In court, it was a mini-preview of the much-anticipated trial. Prosecutors contend the murders are inextricably linked. Mike McLelland and Hasse tried one case together and that was the successful prosecution of Williams several months before they were killed.

Prosecutors have not yet asked to introduce evidence from the Hasse case but it is pretty clear that they likely will do so.

"We have Eric Williams sending a message to Crime Stoppers claiming credit for both murders -- the Hasse murder and the McLelland murders," Wirksye said. "That message contained facts that only the Hasse murderer would know and in that sense it corroborates the confession in the McLelland case. At some point, these cases are so intermixed and intertwined that it would almost be confusing for the jury not to hear it."

The defense adamantly disagreed, saying the Hasse case isn't relevant and must be excluded.

"They're talking about an event that was in another city, 60 days prior with a different modality, different instruments, different settings," Seymour said. "We would have basically a trial within a trial."

Even though prosecutors have not yet asked to introduce evidence from the Hasse killing at trial, Snipes indicated that he would allow it to be introduced.

"For purposes of the defense you should plan as if that will be admitted into the case," Snipes said, noting the allegation is that the killings were part of "an overarching plan of the defendant to seek revenge."

There was also a testy exchange about Kim Williams, the defendant's estranged wife.

She helped prosecutors find the Hasse murder weapon, which was recovered from the depths of Lake Tawakoni. Now, she's on the prosecution's witness list. The defense says it reeks of a clandestine plea deal.

"There has been zero action on that case," Seymour said. "There is something afoot with Ms. Williams' case. it's not proceeding like this case is and we think we know why."

Prosecutors were adamant that wasn't the situation.

"There is no deal with Kim Williams," Wirskye said. "We will deal with Mrs. Williams at the appropriate time and at the appropriate way. There simply is no plea bargain."
 ::snipping3::

I find it refreshing and encouraging Judge Snipes has denied the requested trial delay.  After reading about Jodi Arias's latest legal shenanigans, it gives me hope the trials for the murders of Mike and Cynthia McLelland and Mark Hasse won't be a spectacle.  JMHO

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/09/22/jury-selection-begins-eric-williams-kaufman-county/16038687/
Jury selection begins in Kaufman murder case
September 22, 2014

The long road to picking a jury in the capital murder trial of former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams in the high-profile Kaufman County prosecutor killings started on Monday morning.

The task at hand is finding 12 people — plus a couple of alternates — who haven't made up their mind about the guilt or innocence of Williams.

He is accused in the revenge-style plot to kill the two men who had prosecuted him.

"Most capital murder cases have received publicity but not to this extent," said former State District Judge John Creuzot, who has presided over and prosecuted capital murder cases. "It's going to be difficult to find anybody who hasn't heard about this case and doesn't know anything," he said. "I think a lot of people are going to have an opinion about the guilt or innocence of this man because it's been so highly publicized."

Williams and his estranged wife Kim have been accused of killing Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse on January 31, 2013. Hasse, 57, was gunned down by a masked man as he walked to the courthouse in downtown Kaufman.

District Attorney Mike McLelland, 63, and his 65-year-old wife Cynthia were slain in their Forney home over Easter weekend of that same year.

At this point, prosecutors have decided to try Eric Williams on an indictment for killing Cynthia McLelland. The trial is scheduled to start December 1 at the Rockwall County Courthouse, where the case was moved due to the enormous publicity surrounding the case in Kaufman County.

In this case, potential jurors are being questioned individually for more than an hour at a time. The plan is to interview four or five potential jurors per day. That's why jury selection could last as long as two months.
 ::snipping3::

Because prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, jury candidates are also being questioned on their willingness to sentence someone to the death penalty.

"That disqualifies a lot of people because they can't or won't go that far," Creuzot explained.

The other issue confronting defense and prosecutors boils down to schedules. This trial is slated to begin on December 1, right in the middle of the holiday season.

"You build in a host of problems right there," Creuzot said. "This can be very difficult for the person who sits on [the jury]."

Those selected also face the very real likelihood that they'll be sequestered for some period of time during the trial.

Dallas County District Judge Mike Snipes is presiding over the trial. He is a veteran judge and West Point-educated lawyer who is scheduled to retire soon.
 ::snipping3::

Defense attorneys also on Monday renewed their motion to delay the trial. Snipes denied the motion.

These murders weren't crimes of passion, they were premeditated.  Eric Williams went to great lengths of planning in advance and ambushed the victims, two in their own home and the other leaving his office.  JMHO

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/27386559/judge-wont-throw-out-evidence-in-kaufman-county-murder-trial
Judge won’t throw out evidence in Kaufman County murder trial
November 14, 2014

ROCKWALL, Texas -
A former justice of the peace was in court Friday for a hearing before his murder trial.

Eric Williams is accused of murdering the Kaufman County district attorney, the DA's wife and the county's lead prosecutor.

His trial was moved to Rockwall County and is expected to begin next month. But first his defense attorney wanted to ask the judge to throw out some of the evidence.

Friday's hearing focused on the guns recovered from a lake and storage unit that Williams allegedly rented and the Texas Department of Public Safety ballistics expert who analyzed them.

The defense argued the expert was not credible and the evidence should be excluded from the trail, but the judge disagreed.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Dec. 1.

BBM

Totally agree Muffy  ::bee::

Me too Muffy ::bee:: 

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/27443733/suspects-mother-to-give-taped-deposition-in-kaufman-co-murder-trial
Suspect's mother to give taped deposition in Kaufman Co. murder trial
November 20, 2014

Eric Williams, the former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace accused in the deaths of the Kaufman County district attorney, the D.A'.s wife, Cynthia McLelland, and the lead assistant D.A., was in court for the last time Thursday before the trial for Cynthia's death begins Dec. 1.

It was revealed that Williams' mother, Jessie Ruth Williams, will give a videotaped deposition Saturday. She is too ill to attend the trial.

Eric Williams' estranged wife, Kim, is also charged with capital murder. She will be tried separately.

Video

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/2014/11/24/shannon-hebert-former-kaufman-county-prosecutor-speaks-about-da-murders/70071344/
Former Kaufman Co. prosecutor recounts terror of murders
Tanya Eiserer, WFAA
November 25, 2014

(http://i.imgur.com/sEBLath.jpg) (http://imgur.com/sEBLath)
Eric Williams(Photo: WFAA)

(http://i.imgur.com/aNhYjyJ.jpg) (http://imgur.com/aNhYjyJ)
Shannon Hebert(Photo: WFAA)

(http://i.imgur.com/1vPGNW5.jpg) (http://imgur.com/1vPGNW5)
Mike and Cynthia McLelland(Photo: Courtesy)

(http://i.imgur.com/Mk5oFTU.jpg) (http://imgur.com/Mk5oFTU)
Mark Hasse(Photo: Courtesy)

District Attorney Mike McLelland was her boss. His wife, Cynthia, was her friend. His deputy, Mark Hasse, was her colleague.

Shannon Hebert lost all of them in the spasm of killings that terrorized Kaufman County last year.

"We'll never forget what happened, and we'll never forget them," said Hebert, a former Kaufman County prosecutor.

She hasn't spoken publicly until now, because doing so scares her.

She knew the accused killer, former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams. She appeared in his court. She liked him. She still struggles to understand how, as alleged, he could have plotted for weeks to kill his own former colleagues, the core of the county's law-enforcement community.
 ::snipping3::

Hebert briefly considered Eric Williams as a suspect, but - like many other county residents who knew Williams - she didn't take the idea seriously.

McLelland, though, believed it from the start. Hebert recalled that the theft trial had become so bitter that McLelland and Hasse began carrying guns to work during the trial and stayed armed afterward.

McLelland shared his fears with county officials, and with almost anyone else who would listen, Hebert said.

"He went to the police. He went to the FBI. He went to the news," Hebert said.

As days passed with no arrests in Hasse's shooting, McLelland grew frustrated. He pushed detectives to put Williams on their radar screen.

"He felt that the only person that could have done it wasn't being looked at all," Hebert said.

Hebert said McLelland was a rock of strength in those scary days that followed. The tough-talking district attorney publicly vowed within hours of the killing that authorities would find the killers and pull them out of "whatever hole you're in."

"He showed not ounce of fear," she said. "He actually just worried about us and he led us through it."

Then came Easter weekend. Someone came to the McClellands' front door in Forney, and shot the husband and wife with an assault weapon.

Hebert was shopping for Easter dinner when her phone rang. The McLellands had been murdered.

Hebert was ordered to immediately go home. A desperate search was underway to locate everybody who worked in the prosecutors' office.

"They had to actually go through a list to make sure everybody was still alive," she said. "We didn't know who was doing this. We didn't know if there was only one target that day."

Hebert and other members of the office were put under 24-hour police protection. So were judges and other elected officials. Downtown Kaufman became a virtual armed encampment.

"Mark's death was shocking, but Mike and Cynthia's was terrifying," Hebert said. "At that point, we realized we're all in danger. It was clearly a target on our office."

Hebert became physically ill with fear. How could her boss be dead? She and other prosecutors began wearing bulletproof vests to work. Some bought guns.

The terror went well beyond Kaufman.

"It shook prosecutors all over the country," Hebert said. "I was receiving calls that they were getting protection all over Texas. That they had never been this scared in their lives."

After the McLellands died, she said she began to see Eric Williams as a viable suspect. So did investigators, who had put him under surveillance.

"We all started putting two and two together, and the only tie was Eric," Hebert said.

Several weeks later, Williams and his wife, Kim, were arrested on capital murder charges as authorities discovered evidence linked to the McLelland case in a Seagoville storage unit. Authorities later discovered the gun and a mask used in the killing of Hasse during a search of Lake Tawakoni.

Investigators alleged Eric Williams had other targets he wanted to assassinate, including current Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Norville Wiley.

"She had been my judge for five-and-a-half years," Hebert said. "She has small children, and my goodness, she's just a wonderful woman. Just thinking about it almost made me sick."

Hebert left the Kaufman County District Attorney's Office not long after the killings.

"I just lost the love for the job," she said, adding that she and her husband had already been planning to move closer to family.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/2014/11/30/kaufman-county-eric-williams/19723907/
Testimony wraps at Day 1 of Eric Williams trial
December 1, 2014

 ::snipping3::
t was Easter weekend of 2013 when McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were shot to death inside their house in Forney. It was the last link in a chain of terror to hit this town. Two months earlier a masked man had gunned down one of McLelland's top assistants, Mark Hasse.

Tweets by @tanyaeiserer
On Monday, the former justice of the peace accused of killing them goes on trial. Eric Williams faces three accounts of capital murder, but prosecutors have chosen to try him for the murder of Cynthia McLelland.
Prosecutors allege that Williams held a deadly grudge after Hasse and McLelland successfully prosecuted him for stealing county computer monitors. Those 12 jurors who will decide Williams' guilt or innocence will be told of a complicated, months-in-the-making plot that included the clandestine purchase of getaway cars and the secret renting of a storage unit to hold the cars and other items used in the killings.

Special prosecutors Bill Wirskye and Toby Shook are seeking the death penalty.

Kim Williams also faces capital murder indictments in the deaths. No trial date has been set.

"When Mark Hasse was killed, nobody at that time was sure what had happened whether or not that was an isolated incident and so when that happened to the McLellands on the heels of it, it was disturbing there was no other way to put it," said Andrew Jordan, the county public defender and a fellow Lions Club member.

It was a chain of events that started Jan. 31. 2013.

On the morning he died, Hasse parked in the same county lot, practically around the corner from courthouse, just as he routinely did. He got out of his truck and started toward the courthouse.

Former Kaufman County DA investigator Bruce Bryant believes the killer clearly knew Hasse's routine. The prosecutor was shot five times before he could even draw his weapon.

"He put a lot of planning into this. I'm sure he did. He might have even partially followed him here before," Bryant said.

After the killings of the McLellands, downtown Kaufman became a virtual armed encampment as law officers flooded the town. Judges and other local officials came to the Lions Club meetings with bodyguards.

More...

Video

 ::MonkeyHang::   Williams planned and executed three people. ::MonkeyNoNo::  His wife was in on it all and was in the getaway car each time.  She could have prevented all three deaths, imo.   ::MonkeyNoNo::


http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/01/kaufman-prosecutors-outline-case-against-williams/19761337/
Day two of trial for man accused in Kaufman slayings
December 2, 2014

 ::snipping3::
On Monday, the 12 jurors who will decide Williams' fate began hearing testimony for the first time about a clandestinely-rented storage unit, secretly-purchased getaway cars, and an anonymous tip sent to Crime Stoppers confessing to the murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife, and prosecutor Mark Hasse.
In his opening statement, lead special prosecutor Bill Wirskye said the evidence will show that Williams set out to kill Hasse and McLelland, the two men who had successfully prosecuted him in March 2012 for burglary and theft of county computer monitors. The conviction resulted in Williams' disbarment and removal from office.

"The life that he knew, it disappeared... and when he watched it disappear, he began to plot and plan to seek vengeance — fatal and final retribution," Wirskye told jurors.

Prosecutors seek the death penalty against Williams. He is being tried specifically on the indictment for the killing of Cynthia McLelland.
 ::snipping3::
Williams' wife, Kim, is charged with capital murder in the cases. She is accused of being in the getaway car during all of the killings. Her trial date has not been set.

Defense attorneys asked few, if any, questions of the witnesses during opening testimony on Monday.
In the predawn hours of March 30, 2013, prosecutors say that Williams forced his way into the McLelland home with an AR-15 assault weapon.

"He cuts down a defenseless Cynthia McLelland in a blizzard of bullets," Wirskye said.

After shooting the district attorney's wife in the head, Williams then allegedly turned the assault weapon on Mike McLelland, pulling the trigger "over and over," the prosecutor said.
Wirskye said the evidence would show that Williams then stood over the body of McLelland and continued to fire weapons into the "defenseless body."

Investigators found at least 20 spent rounds from the weapon used in the killings, testimony showed. One of the spent shell cases was found under the slain DA. He had 16 gunshot wounds. His wife had eight, including gunshot wounds to the head, upper chest and chin.

Charles "C.J." Tomlinson, a Dallas police officer, testified about finding the bodies of the McLellands. He said his stepfather and mother — Skeet and Leah Phillips, who were best friends of the McLellands — became worried about after they couldn't reach them by phone. Tomlinson testified that his mother went by the home and no one came to the door.

The police officer said his mother asked that he and his stepfather go with her to see what was going on.

When he got there, Tomlinson said he found the front door unlocked.
"As soon as I saw that door swing open, I knew something wasn't right," said Tomlinson, who has since married the daughter of Cynthia McLelland.

He said he took several steps into the house and saw spent shell casings. He took a couple more steps and called out for Mike McLelland. He saw the body of Cynthia McLelland near the front entryway.

"She [Leah Phillips] just fell to her knees and started crying," Tomlinson said, adding that he saw spent shell cases nearby.

His stepfather stepped a little further inside and soon found the body of Mike McLelland in a hallway just outside a bathroom.

"There was nothing at that point that anyone could do for them," Tomlinson said.

Tomlinson testified that Cynthia McLelland was in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. Prosecutors said they brought up as evidence that it would have been hard for her to defend herself.

Members of the McLelland family were visibly upset as Texas Ranger Rudy Flores described the crime scene. He testified that investigators found no signs of forced entry and no signs of theft. Mike McLelland was found dressed in sweatpants and was shirtless.

Flores said investigators found a number of guns in the house. None had been discharged.

Within hours of the bodies being found, law officers met Williams in the parking lot of a restaurant and asked him where he had been that day. Williams told investigators that he had been in Quinlan, Texas, with his wife.

Quinlan, Wirskye said, is close to Lake Tawakoni, which is where Texas Department of Public Safety divers later found a mangled cell phone belonging to Williams and a gun and mask allegedly used in the killing of Hasse.

Williams told investigators that it had been a while since he had fired a gun. Test results showed that wasn't true, Wirskye added.

"This man had gunshot residue on his hands the night of the McLelland murders," Wirskye told jurors.

A few days later, a Texas Ranger and a sheriff's deputy interviewed Williams, and he told them that he had disposed of all of his guns. They also asked if he had done any computer searches of McLelland prior to the killings. He told them "no," Wirskye said.

About the same time, investigators obtained computer records showing that Williams was not telling the truth, Wirskye said.

During a search of the Williams residence on April 12, agents found the title from a white Ford Crown Victoria that investigators said was used as a getaway car in the McLelland killings. They also found a sheet of paper with a series of numbers.

Those correspond to Crime Stoppers tips — including one that was a confession to the murders.

"He sent an email to law enforcement claiming credit for the murders, thinking that he was anonymous, thinking law enforcement would never figure it out," Wirskye said. "But he was wrong."

Roger Williams, a one-time friend, testified that he came forward and told authorities about a storage unit that Eric Williams had secretly had him rent in late 2012 after seeing that law officers were searching the Williams residence. He said he and another fellow state guardsman decided that they needed to talk to the police.

He testified that he rented the storage unit after Eric Williams came to asking for a favor. Rodger Williams — who is not related to Eric Williams — had served in Texas National Guard with the defendant. He testified that Eric Williams wanted him to rent the locker in his name because he didn't want the authorities to know about it.

Rodger Williams said Eric Williams gave him $1,200 to cover a year of rent. He said he did not return to the storage facility until the day he led the Texas Rangers to it.

Asked if Eric Williams was still his friend and if he still had faith in him, Rodger Williams replied: "None whatsoever."

Inside Unit No. 18, prosecutors said they found a veritable treasure trove of evidence, including the Crown Victoria that testimony showed Eric Williams had purchased under a fake name.

They also found a live round that was said to have cycled through the same weapon that killed the McLellands.

Investigators have obtained records from the storage unit facility showing that someone had entered and left the unit at times corresponding to the McLelland murders.

Surveillance video from a nearby fast food restaurant shows Williams' sport utility vehicle arriving shortly before the time of the killings, and then the Crown Victoria leaving. The images show the Crown Victoria returning after the time of the murders, and Williams' SUV leaving.

Testimony showed that Williams used an underpass not far from the storage unit as a makeshift gun range because, prosecutors argued, he wanted to practice for the killings. Authorities found shell cases from the same weapon used in the McLelland murders.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/27527576/friend-says-eric-williams-asked-him-to-hide-gun-parts-after-kaufman-county-murders
Witness says Eric Williams asked him to hide gun parts after Kaufman County murders
December 2, 2014

Testimony in the Kaufman County murder trial continued Tuesday and included discussions about the suspect's behavior around the time of the killings.

Eric Williams, a former justice of the peace, is on trial for the 2013 murder of Cynthia McLelland. He's also accused of killing McLelland's husband, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, and prosecutor Mark Hasse.

A man who served in the State Guard with Williams said Williams contacted him out the blue and asked for a favor.

David Hunt told the court they had an awkward conversation over lunch. He said Williams asked him to help him get rid of an upper, or the traceable part of an automatic rifle.

“I found the conversation to be awkward, somewhat forced. I think the conversation would be what I would call non-linear. Generally speaking conversations have a beginning, middle and end. This conversation felt like it was jumping around, just very odd," Hunt said.

Investigators who searched a storage unit that Williams allegedly rented found a Ford Crown Victoria, tactical gear, homemade explosives and two automatic rifle lowers, but no uppers.

Hunt told the court that he did not help Williams get rid of anything.
 ::snipping3::

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/03/kaufman-county-murders-shooting-killings-trial/19826635/
Both sides rest in Kaufman murder trial
December 3, 2014

ROCKWALL — The capital murder case against former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams has had it all: From ballistics evidence linking him to the 2013 shooting deaths of the district attorney and his wife; to his fingerprints on the alleged getaway vehicle; to incriminating e-mails sent from his computer after Mark and Cynthia McLelland were slain.

Over three days of testimony, jurors heard from about 30 witnesses as special prosecutors detailed their case against Williams, the 47-year-old disbarred lawyer who authorities say killed the McLellands along with top county prosecutor Mark Hasse in revenge for the two men prosecuting him for the theft of county computer monitors.

That successful prosecution cost Williams his job as a judge, and resulted in the loss of his law license. Investigators said those events set him on a deadly path to take out the two men he blamed most for his downfall.

Hasse was gunned down on January 31, 2013 as he walked to the Kaufman County courthouse, a killing that stunned the tiny town and put it in the national spotlight.

But it was the murders of the McLellands in their Forney home two months later, over Easter weekend, that sparked sheer terror. Prosecutors said the couple died in a "torrent of lead."
This trial has centered around the McLelland killings, because prosecutors are trying Williams on the indictment for Cynthia McLelland's death. Jurors never heard Hasse's name spoken during three days of testimony.

If Williams is convicted, prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Tuesday's testimony was mostly about guns and firearms evidence; Wednesday's testimony centered around the forensics, putting the finishing touches on this case.
"This case on guilt or innocence is not defensible," said Barry Sorrels, a prominent Dallas defense attorney. "There is no defense to the evidence that's been presented by the state. It's one incriminating fact after another, all tied together."

Sorrels attended all three days of testimony. He said lead special prosecutor Bill Wirskye followed through on his promise to deliver an "airtight case" to the jury.

AN AVALANCHE OF EVIDENCE

Over three days, jurors heard an avalanche of evidence, from incriminating e-mails sent to Crime Stoppers from the computer of Williams to an unspent cartridge recovered from Williams' secret storage unit that investigators said had cycled through the same assault rifle that killed the McLellands.

Sorrells said that unspent cartridge is the single strongest piece of evidence.

"That puts Eric Williams at the crime scene," he said. "It's better than a fingerprint. It made Eric Williams the shooter of Cynthia and Mike McLelland."

In testimony, jurors have heard that Williams agreed to be subjected to a gunshot residue test about 15 hours after the McLellands were slain. The accused man told investigators at that time that he had not fired a weapon.

Texas Department of Public Safety firearms examiner Thomas White told jurors on Wednesday that Williams had gunshot residue on his hands that night.

"These results are consistent with the individual within four hours before collection either fired a weapon; been near a weapon when it was fired; or handled some kind of object that had gunshot residue on it," he said.

Prosecutors contend that Williams likely had gunshot residue on his hands from disposing of the firearms evidence.

CAR, COMPUTER YIELD IMPORTANT CLUES

An FBI special agent testified about finding the title to that alleged getaway vehicle, a Ford Crown Victoria sedan, in a filing cabinet at the Williams residence. Earlier testimony showed Williams purchased the car under an alias.

A DPS fingerprint examiner said that two fingerprints found on that car belonged to Williams. The car was found inside a storage unit filled with dozens of firearms and other evidence.

Jurors heard testimony about searches for the words "Michael" and "McLelland" that were done from Williams' computer on January 6, 2013, months before the killings. They also heard testimony about Williams using cloaking software to send incriminating e-mails to Crime Stoppers.

The first of those messages arrived the day after the McLelland killings. In those e-mails, the sender appears to confess to the murders, and threatens more attacks if demands are not met.

Jurors were also told about the 119 hours that DPS divers spent searching the murky depths of Lake Tawakoni.

DPS Staff Sgt. Stephen Tippett testified that troopers dived a total of 16 days from August to March, explaining that they did so in a grid-like pattern.

"The visibility in Tawakoni is zero visibility," he explained to jurors. "lt's almost like chocolate milk... as you soon you get underwater, you lose visibility."

From those waters emerged some key evidence: A mangled cell phone belonging to Williams, and a gun and mask alleged to ahve been used in the killing of Hasse.

Jurors did not hear about the gun and the mask, presumably because of its link to the Hasse case. They also were not told that Williams' accused accomplice and estranged wife, Kim, led authorities to that location.

Perhaps the most dramatic moment in Wednesday's testimony came when the prosecution's final witness showed the jurors videos from the morning of the killings.

Security camera footage from a fast-food restaurant across the street from the storage facility shows a truck matching the description of Williams' arriving – about 40 minutes before the McLellands were gunned down.

A white car is seen driving out of Williams' secret storage unit and exiting the property. Security tapes from other businesses shows what appears to be that same car traveling along Interstate 20 going toward the McLelland's Forney residence.

Video from the surveillance cameras of other businesses shows the white car taking a different path as it returns to the storage facility. Surveillance video from the restaurant shows its return after the killings.

The truck then drives away.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

As their final act, prosecutors played a video of a television interview with Williams that occurred a few days after the McLelland murders. In it, he denied any involvement.
First, I want to say my deepest condolence goes to the McLelland family and all the people at the courthouse, most of which I know," Williams said. "I certainly wish them the best in bringing justice to this incredibly egregious act."

Williams added that McLelland and Hasse were merely doing their jobs when they prosecuted him.

With that, the prosecution closed its case. The defense then rested, too.

Eric Williams' defense attorneys presented no witnesses. Williams declined to testify on his own behalf.

A short time later, he appeared to shiver and appeared upset.

Closing statements will begin Thursday morning.
 ::snipping3::

Guilty!  Guilty!  Guilty!

 ::justice2nj2::

 ::MonkeyGavel::

http://www.aol.com/article/2014/12/04/man-found-guilty-of-killing-texas-das-wife/21003013/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D575805

 ::justice2nj2:: ::justice2nj2::

 ::rhino:: ::MonkeyGavel:: ::justice2nj2::

http://kxan.com/2014/12/04/man-found-guilty-of-killing-texas-das-wife/
Man found guilty of killing Texas DA’s wife
December 4, 2014

ROCKWALL, Texas (AP) — A North Texas jury convicted a former public official Thursday of capital murder in a revenge plot against a district attorney, his wife and a top assistant.

Eric Williams now faces a potential death sentence after he was convicted in the 2013 murder of Cynthia McLelland, the wife of slain Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland. Testimony in the trial involved the deaths of both McLellands, and Williams also is indicted in the death of assistant prosecutor Mark Hasse.

Prosecutors took just three days to present their case against Williams, while his defense lawyers only had a closing argument and did not call witnesses. Defense attorneys and prosecutors declined to comment afterward.

After the verdict, Williams’ brother-in-law, Zach Bellemare, said the defense team “was terrible.”

The McLellands’ bodies were found inside their rural home east of Dallas in March 2013. The couple had already changed to go to bed when Williams charged into the home and opened fire. Prosecutors say Williams shot Cynthia McLelland in the head, and he then shot Mike McLelland and stood over his body, firing repeatedly.

Their deaths occurred two months after a masked gunman killed prosecutor Hasse outside a local courthouse building.

Prosecutor Bill Wirskye characterized Williams in closing arguments as “a ruthless killing machine.”

Williams was a former justice of the peace who lost his job and his law license after McLelland and Hasse successfully prosecuted him for stealing three computer monitors from a county government building. Williams was convicted in March 2012, about 10 months before Hasse was killed. “My life has taken a drastic turn,” Williams told a probation officer at the time.

The case was built on circumstantial evidence against Williams, and the weapon used to kill the McLellands has never been found.

“It’s a fantasy. It’s a guess. There’s no proof of it,” defense attorney Matthew Seymour said in closing arguments.

But prosecutors showed jurors evidence from a storage locker he had a friend rent in secret. Inside the locker was the suspected getaway vehicle, more than 30 guns and police tactical gear. A dive team that searched a local lake also found a gun believed to have been used to shoot Hasse and a mask Williams allegedly wore.

Williams’ estranged wife, Kim, has been indicted for capital murder, though her attorney has said she is cooperating with prosecutors. She did not testify in the trial. She’s accused of having driven the getaway vehicle after Hasse’s killing.

Prosecutors also found a password in Williams’ home to an account on the Crime Stoppers tips website used to send a partial confession. One message presented in court said, “Do we have your full attention now?”

Prosecutors decided to pursue the three murder charges individually, because if Williams was acquitted in the death of Cynthia McLelland, they then could try him in the slaying of Mike McLelland. Had prosecutors not won either case, they would bring Williams to trial in Hasse’s death.

The trial was held in neighboring Rockwall County due to the attention the case received in Kaufman County. The sentencing phase begins Monday.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/27572269/punishment-phase-starts-monday-in-kaufman-murders-case
Punishment phase starts Monday in Kaufman murders case
December 8, 2014

Jurors are considering life in prison or the death penalty for a former justice of the peace convicted of killing a prosecutor's wife in Kaufman County.

The trial of Eric Williams enters the punishment phase Monday in Rockwall.

Williams was convicted Thursday of capital murder in a revenge plot against a Kaufman County district attorney, his wife and a top assistant.

He lost his judicial job and law license after being prosecuted and convicted in 2012 of stealing county computer monitors.

Williams was found guilty in the March 2013 fatal shooting of Cynthia McLelland. Her husband, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, was also found slain at their home. Williams is also charged with killing assistant prosecutor Mark Hasse (HAS'-ee) in January 2013.
 ::snipping3::

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/09/punishment-phase-williams-continues/20133699/
Death penalty jury sees Williams' arsenal
December 9, 2014

ROCKWALL — Prosecutors staged a virtual gun show Tuesday as they tried to convince a jury to give Eric Williams the death penalty for killing Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife in 2013.

Three custom-built wooden stands were set up in the courtroom to display 39 pistols and 22 long guns seized from Williams' storage unit, as well as two guns found in Lake Tawakoni and another weapon seized from Williams' residence.

Jurors learned that Williams did a computer search on the home address of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse and on the license plate of one of Hasse's neighbors, indicating that he was watching the prosecutor in the days before he was assassinated.

Prosecutors said Williams did computer searches on the men now prosecuting him for murder, and he also researched members of the news media. He was apparently trying to keep tabs on the investigation, even downloading a copy of the McLelland search warrant the day after the murders.
 ::snipping3::

This was the second day of testimony in the punishment phase of the trial. Prosecutors are expected to wrap up their case on Wednesday, calling for the death penalty.

The defense will then follow with its own witnesses, arguing that Williams should be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Last Thursday, the jury found Williams guilty of capital murder in the murders of the McLellands.

Mike and Cynthia McLelland died in a "torrent of lead" at their Forney home over Easter weekend in 2013. Police recovered 20 spent shell casings from the crime scene.

Mark Hasse was gunned down "in cold blood" two months earlier as he walked to the Kaufman County Courthouse.

The jury heard Monday for the first time about the death of Hasse and about the evidence linking Williams to the crime. Prosecutors said Williams meticulously plotted revenge because Hasse and McLelland had prosecuted him for stealing county computer monitors. The conviction cost Williams his job as a judge and he lost his license to practice law.

On Tuesday, prosecutors showed just how well Williams had armed himself.

Prosecutors set up the massive display of weaponry during the lunch break. Defense attorneys were clearly caught off-guard and immediately objected.

"This display is horrendous," lead defense attorney Matthew Seymour said. "The display of these items is wholly unnecessary and prejudicial ... This is clearly designed for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to inflame the jury."

Seymour contended that there was no need to bring all the guns into the courtroom since jurors had already seen pictures of the evidence seized from Williams' storage unit.

State District Judge Michael Snipes disagreed.

One by one, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Matt Johnson displayed Williams' firepower, explaining the capabilities of each firearm. He also showed knives, a machete, a crossbow, and boxes of ammunition — plus two jars containing something like napalm.

In photographs, the jury was also shown an assortment of police shirts; a police badge; body armor; and raid jackets found in the storage unit.

In Williams' home, investigators found a copy of a manifesto written by Christopher Dorner, the disgruntled Los Angeles police officer who launched a series of attacks against law enforcement personnel.

Prosecutors also sought to show that Williams was remorseless, playing part of an interview they secretly recorded just days after the McLelland murders. Investigators initially encountered him at the home of his in-laws who live down the street.

Williams told investigators that he had already answered written questions about the Hasse murder. He explained that at the time of Mark Hasse was slain, his "frozen shoulder" issue had flared up and that's why he was wearing a sling. Earlier testimony showed that he told investigators on the day of Hasse's death that he was wearing the sling because he had had surgery.

On the day of the recorded interview, Williams denied having had surgery. He said that he was home at the time of the McLelland killings.

Asked if he had anything to do with any of the deaths, Williams replied: "No, absolutely not."

He told investigators that he and his wife drove to Quinlan the night that the McLellands were found dead.

Quinlan is not far from Lake Tawakoni where the guns and weapons linked to Hasse's murder were later found. Ballistics testing showed that one of those guns was used to kill the prosecutor. The other had been purchased by Williams' wife, Kim, in the late 1990s.

Investigators asked about Williams' weapons collection. He told them he had sold all but one — a .44-caliber handgun.

"I have one gun that I'm trying to sell," Williams was heard saying in the recording.

He refused to say who he sold the weapons to, telling investigators that had has given them as "much information" as he was going to. He told them that most of the firearms were sold at gun shows.

"Anything I say will be used against me," Williams said. "I know what you're trying to do; I've been through this … It's just going to keep going and going."

Still, at times, the recorded conversation seemed almost pleasant. Williams laughed and joked with the officers, telling them at one point that he has no money and he sold his weapons because he needed money.

The investigators asked to search Williams' home. He initially declined, but they ultimately convinced him to let them look around. He rode over on his Segway and let them in.

While his home was being searched, Williams and the investigators are heard chatting about where he went to school, about his service in the National Guard reserves, and in the state guard.

Soon after that recording was made, investigators found the arsenal in Williams' storage unit.

In court Tuesday, prosecutors argued the guns served as proof that Williams had lied. They hope jurors will see him as a continuing danger to society who should be put to death.

Jurors were also told about a disturbing e-mail that Williams sent to a colleague in 2007. At that time, Williams was acting as a guardian ad litem in cases involving children, and he had become upset with another lawyer.

Williams wrote that he was "ready to eat barbed wire and drink nails. I'll drink gasoline and piss napalm."

He wrote that he would prevail.

"No judge in this country can stop me. They know it and I know it. "

Of the person he was angry with, Williams wrote that he would take him down.

"I have no problem sending him to the hospital with a severed vertebrae, removing his children's organs, throwing his wife into a gang bang train or anything else creative you can come up with," he wrote. "I just don't really like this guy, and he should go somewhere else, if allowed to live."

Williams ends the rant with this: "How about we don't share this e-mail?"

Testimony in the punishment phase of Eric Williams' trial was scheduled to resume at 10 a.m. Wednesday. It will be broadcast live on WFAA.com

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/09/punishment-phase-williams-continues/20133699/
Slide show at above link.


(http://i.imgur.com/zpAwEdW.jpg) (http://imgur.com/zpAwEdW)
Prosecutors displayed an arsenal of weapons at Eric Williams' murder trial on December 9, 2014. (Photo: Tanya Eiserer / WFAA)

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/27595960/state-rests-ahead-of-eric-williams-sentencing
State rests ahead of Eric Williams sentencing
Posted: Dec 10, 2014 11:56 AM CST
Updated: Dec 10, 2014 11:57 AM CST

Prosecutors have finished calling witnesses for the penalty phase of Eric Williams' murder trial.

Williams was convicted last week in the 2013 death of Cynthia McLelland. He's also accused of killing Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and prosecutor Mark Hasse.

The state rested Wednesday morning without calling Williams' estranged wife and co-defendant to testify. Legal experts thought she might because she was allegedly an eyewitness to the murders.

Instead, one of final witnesses was one of Williams' ex-girlfriends from the 1990s. She said he threatened her with a gun after she broke off their relationship.
 ::snipping3::
Earlier in the penalty phase jurors were shown a stash of guns, ammunition and fake police uniforms that were found at Williams' home and in his storage unit. He told police he was buying and selling it all legally.

The defense could begin presenting its case Wednesday afternoon.

Williams is facing the death penalty.

 ::MonkeyNoNo::


http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/16/kim-williams-murder-trial-eric-kaufman/20474739/
Wife: Williams celebrated Kaufman murders with steak dinner
December 16, 2014

ROCKWALL -- The estranged wife of convicted killer Eric Williams testified Tuesday that her husband celebrated the deaths of Kaufman County's district attorney and his wife with a steak dinner, and planned to continue killing other county officials.
Kim Williams, who has been helping investigators build their case against Eric Williams, testified as the final witness for the prosecution in the penalty phase of her husband's murder trial. She told the defense that by testifying, she is hoping to avoid the death penalty.

Kim told the jury that while she is guilty of being an accomplice in the murders, her husband was the trigger man behind the deaths of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia.

Prosecutors already have won a guilty verdict in those killings. During the penalty phase of the trial, they are seeking the death penalty for the former justice of the peace. The defense argues that he should receive a life sentence.

Kim Williams' testimony supported two points critical to the argument for a death penalty: That her husband killed in cold blood, and that he posed a continuing danger to society.

She said Eric Williams carefully planned each killing, celebrated with a steak dinner after the deaths, and had identified additional targets. They included current Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley and retired State District Judge Glen Ashworth. Kim said Eric had a "good relationship" with Ashworth, his former boss.
 ::snipping3::
Prosecutors and defense attorneys both argue that Eric Williams became enraged after his former colleagues in Kaufman County government won his conviction on a charge of stealing three computer monitors from the county. The conviction cost Williams his job as a justice of the peace, and his license to practice law. Defense lawyers, seeking to soften his punishment, have argued that the prosecution was unreasonable.

On the stand Tuesday, Kim Williams said her husband was more angry at Hasse than anyone after the conviction. She outlined his plan to kill Hasse, McLelland and Ashworth. She said he had planned to kidnap Ashworth and kill him with a crossbow and napalm, before putting him in their freezer.

Kim said they scoped out where they would kill Hasse and called it the "Tombstone Plan." She added that Eric was "excited and happy" when he was about to kill Hasse outside the courthouse.

"His anger was my anger," Kim Williams said.

"I asked him if Mark said anything," Kim recalled. "And he told me that Mark said "No, no, please no."

She added that he appeared satisfied with himself.

She said after Hasse's murder, they stashed their getaway car in a storage unit and Eric cleaned it of fingerprints.

Kim then outlined the plan to kill the McLellands. She said they originally planned to kill Mike McLelland near the courthouse as well. Then they decided to kill him at home. Kim said that Eric told her Cynthia McLelland had to be killed because she would be a witness and was "collateral damage."

She also said that Eric dressed as a SWAT team member for the Forney killings. She told jurors that she and her husband celebrated with a steak cookout after the murders and were "joyous and happy."

Kim Wiliams told the jury that she and Eric had had code for talking by using a deck of cards. Mike McLelland was the "King." Erleigh Wiley was the "Queen."

After the murders, Kim Williams led investigators to the two guns, a cell phone and a grim reaper mask that were found in Lake Tawakoni. Ballistics testing showed that one of the guns was used to kill Hasse. The other gun had previously been purchased by Kim Williams. The gunman in Hasse's death was wearing a mask like the one police recovered.

She also showed police where Williams had performed target practice in preparation for the killings. Authorities found shell casings there that matched those found at the McLelland home and the unfired shell casings found in Eric Williams' secret storage unit.

After Kim Williams' testimony, members of the FBI and former judge and current Kaufman Co. DA Erleigh Norville Wiley, who was on Eric Williams' hit list, took the stand.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/27640473/wife-testifies-ex-judge-fatally-shot-3-for-revenge
Estranged wife testifies against Kaufman County killer Eric Williams
December 16, 2014

The estranged wife of convicted Kaufman County killer Eric Williams testified Tuesday during the sentencing phase of his trial. She talked how they planned and carried out the murders.

Eric Williams was found guilty earlier this month in the shooting death of Cynthia McLelland. He is also accused of killing Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and prosecutor Mark Hasse.

Kim Williams told jurors Tuesday that her testimony was voluntarily. She is also charged with capital murder and admitted her guilt.

Kim said Eric was the one who pulled the trigger, but she helped him because she believed in him and loved him. She also admitted being a drug addict.

“I was so drugged up, his anger became my anger,” she said.

Kim testified that Eric was mad at Hasse and McLelland because they prosecuted him for stealing county computer equipment in 2011. He lost his job as a Kaufman County justice of the peace and his law license.

She claimed he drank a lot of beer and believes it affected his diabetes and way of thinking. He started talking about killing judges and Hasse, she said.

Kim admitted making napalm for her husband.

“He wanted to kill Hass, then bore out his stomach and put the napalm in it,” she said.

Ultimately they went with the “Tombstone” plan for Hasse's murder, which was based on the movie in which people are hunted and killed in the street, Kim said.

Kim admitted being the getaway driver that day. She said they parked the car in a storage unit afterward and drove home feeling happy and satisfied.

For the McLelland murders, Kim said Eric's plan was to dress up like a cop, ring the doorbell and say there was a gunman in the area. He even modeled the fake sheriff's outfit for her the night before.

Cynthia McLelland's death was collateral damage, she said.

Kim testified that she and her husband drove to her parent's house near Lake Tawakani after shooting the McLellands. They threw the evidence in the lake and then celebrated with grilled steaks.

Eric also had plans to kill at least two other judges, his wife said.

Prosecutors asked Kim why she chose to testify.

"Because those families have suffered and they deserve this," she answered.

During cross examination, Kim also said she is also hoping her testimony will spare her the death penalty.

Eric is facing a sentence of either life in prison or the death penalty.

His defense attorneys rested their case Monday after calling several character witnesses – his mother, childhood friends and a few co-workers.

 ::MonkeyHang::

 ::rhino::

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/17/eric-williams-kaufman-county-murders/20525633/
Death penalty for Williams; compared to Manson, Dahmer
December 17, 2014


ROCKWALL -- Eric Williams has been sentenced to death for the 2013 Easter weekend killings of the District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife.

Jurors deliberated for about two hours and 40 minutes before being sent home Tuesday night. They resumed deliberations Wednesday morning and gave their verdict just before 9:30 a.m.

Judge Mike Snipes compared Williams to infamous serial killers.

"You made yourself out to be some sort of 'Charles Bronson-death-wish-vigilante' in this case. I never bought that. And to any deluded souls out there who may have bought it... at the end of the day, you murdered a little old lady," the judge told Williams. "And you would have murdered two other innocent people if you had the opportunity. That puts you right there with Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Richard Speck."

Judge Snipes also spoke to the people of Kaufman County.

"I know you've been scared for the last couple of years. Nobody's gonna be scared anymore."

The families of the murder victims spoke directly to Williams. Through their tears and anger, they told him what they thought of him.

"You are going to die and our family will be there to watch it happen. And long after your corpse has been disposed of, and your name forgotten, this county and state will remember the good people — Mark Hasse, Mike McLelland, Cynthia McLelland --- who gave their lives putting scum like you in prison," Mark Hasse's mother wrote in a statement which was read in court.

"You took away my parents. You will get what you deserve," son JR McLelland said.

He told Williams they would have the final celebration. On the witness stand, Kim Williams talked about how she and her husband celebrated by grilling steaks after Williams gunned down the McLellands.

"Tonight while you eat a bologna sandwich. I am going to have steak. I'll be the one celebrating and I will be there to watch you die," JR McLelland said.

Williams wouldn't even look at the family members as they spoke to him. Daughter Crystal McLelland said the last two years have torn apart their families.

"This is the worst nightmare. Why you thought you had the right to kill them I will never understand," she said.

Eric Williams will die by lethal injection. Kim Williams still faces her fate. She is hoping by testifying against her husband she will be spared the death penalty and will be given a life sentence.

The 12-member jury found Williams guilty of the capital murder indictment of the death of Cynthia McLelland earlier this month. The indictment included the death of her husband, Mike McLelland.
 ::snipping3::
Prosecutors say Williams meticulously plotted revenge because Hasse and McLelland had prosecuted him for stealing the monitors. The conviction cost Williams his job as a justice of the peace, and he lost his license to practice law.

The jury began deliberations shortly after hearing explosive testimony from his estranged wife and accused accomplice, Kim Williams. She calmly and without emotion walked jurors through the planning of the murders, how they were carried out and what happened afterward.

In closing arguments Williams' defense team pleaded for his life. But prosecutors say Eric Williams is a serial psychopathic killer who planned to kill even more of his enemies.

It only took this jury 90 minutes to find Williams guilty of capital murder, surprising some people who thought they would sentence him just as quickly.

All 12 jurors had to agree for the death sentence to be imposed.

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/17/judge-impact-statement-victim-judge-eric-williams-kaufman-county/20541565/
'Got what you deserve': Judge, loved ones speak out
December 17, 2014

 ::snipping3::
Taking the stand with reddened eyes, J.R. McLelland spoke directly to Williams, at one point goading him to look him in the eye.

McLelland questioned whether this outcome is what Williams wanted from the start after he failed to become a law enforcement officer. He then ended his statement with a reference to testimony made by Kim Williams the day prior to his sentencing. On the stand, Mrs. Williams recalled the mood 'joyous' after her husband shot down the McLellands in a "torrent of lead." She said that night, they both went to her parents' house where they ate a grilled steak dinner.

"And I was told not to cuss, and I'm trying not to. So, I'll just tell you this, tonight, while you're eating a bologna sandwich, I'm going to have steaks. Ribeye, baked potatoes, a big fat glass of sweet tea, while you drink water and [eat a] sandwich. And I'll be there to watch you die, along with the rest of my family. I don't know if this was what you were wanting, this is what you got. [Looks to jury] Thank y'all for your service. [Looks back at Williams] Have fun in Hunt."

Nathan Foreman sat tall and kept his composure as he addressed Williams. He took his time to share the impact and role his mother and stepfather played in his and the rest of McLelland and Foreman lives. He described his mother as the "center of our family" and Mr. McLelland as his ear during troubling times. He also depicted the energy and life that was taken from the family following their deaths.

"I grew up believing in the Golden Rule, that what you do will come back to you, and so I know and believe that you, Eric, will get your punishment.

...My grandmother died this last year right after Thanksgiving. And she told me after mom and Mike died that some of the spark of life had left. She was ready to die at that point. It broke my heart to watch a vibrant woman wither away after one of her kids were gone.

...I believe it's important not to hate and I work on that daily because I think that hate is corrosive, it can eat away your soul. So, I try not to hate, but I cannot forgive and I cannot forget."

More victim's family statements....

(my blue highlight)  Really?  She's making comment on the families terrible losses, when she could have prevented the three deaths in the first place?!  What the heck?  A plea deal is more than she deserves, imo.  Trying to save her own bacon.   ::MonkeyNoNo::  It seemed it was okay to help send three people to their deaths, yet she seems to want and value her own life.   ::MonkeyNoNo::  She was responsible for the taking of not one, not two but the lives of three people in two different murder venues.  And would have gone on if they hadn't been caught.  That's a lot imo.  All in the name of vengence.  I hope her sentence is life without parole.  She can spend the rest of her days in a cell pondering. I wonder if the legals were worried it could be difficult bringing about the death penalty, given that she's an elderly woman and supposedly not the person pulling the trigger?  Perhaps the defense could come up with something about her mental status or pressure from her husband.  I don't know.  We may never know.   ::MonkeyNoNo:: 

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2014/12/28/kim-williams-pleads-guilty-kaufman-murders/20966809/
Kim Williams to plead guilty in Kaufman murders
December 28, 2014

KAUFMAN COUNTY -- The estranged wife and accused accomplice of former Justice of the Peace Eric Williams will plead guilty Tuesday to murder in connection to the 2013 assassinations of the Kaufman County district attorney, his wife and a top assistant, News 8 Has learned.

"A tentative plea agreement has been reached," said lead special prosecutor Bill Wirskye.

Kim Williams is scheduled to plead guilty at 9 a.m. Tuesday in Kaufman County before Dallas County State District Judge Michael Snipes. Her husband was sentenced to the death penalty on Dec. 17 in Rockwall County, where his case had been moved due to pretrial publicity.

Kim Williams is charged with three counts of capital murder. It is unclear whether she will plead guilty to all three of the indictments. It is also unknown what prison sentence she will receive. Kim Williams is being held in the Kaufman County jail in lieu of $10 million bail.

Eric Williams arrived on Death Row the day after being sentenced, according to the Texas Department of Criminal justice web site.

Hasse, 57, was gunned down Jan. 31, 2013, as he walked to the Kaufman County Courthouse. District Attorney Mike McLlelland, 63, and his wife, Cynthia, were murdered in their Forney home during the Easter weekend in what prosecutors have described as a "torrent of lead."

In the punishment phase of her husband's trial, Kim Williams took the stand and gave a step-by-step account of how he developed his murderous plot and carried out the killings. She confessed that he was the triggerman and she was his willing helper.

She calmly and without emotion recounted to jurors how they celebrated the killings and how Eric Williams planned to kill two others, including his former boss, a retired state district judge, and the current Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley.

She testified that at that time she had no plea deal with prosecutors and had simply decided to tell the truth in hopes of receiving some consideration in her own cases.

"Those families deserve this," she said. "They've suffered a terrible, terrible loss, and they deserve this."

Kim Williams told jurors what happened when her husband, then a newly-elected justice of the peace, was convicted of stealing county computer monitors. She said he began drinking and became angrier and angrier. He soon began talking of killing those who had crossed him.

Kim Williams said he decided that he would kill Hasse first in a plot intended to cause shock and terror by its brazen, public nature. She said she drove the getaway car that her husband secretly purchased days before the killing. Kim Williams described how they parked and waited for Hasse to park in his "usual spot" near the county courthouse. Kim Williams testified that her husband dressed all in black and a Halloween mask, then got out and shot down Hasse.
Kim Williams testified that her husband soon began formulating his plan to kill Mike McLelland.— the other man that he blamed most for his downfall, she said. She said her husband decided that he would kill the district attorney in his Forney home on Easter weekend because he didn't think he'd have law enforcement protection. His plan was to impersonate a police officer, figuring that Cynthia McLelland would answer the door. He planned to tell her that there was a gunman in the area so he could enter the house, Kim Williams told jurors.

On the morning of the killings, Eric Williams donned his uniform — complete with helmet and a bulletproof vest with a sheriff's patch on the front. They drove to the McLellands' home and he went to the front door. Kim Williams then testified that she heard the gunshots.

Law officers would later recover 20 shell casings from the McLelland home. Mike McLelland had 16 gunshot wounds; Cynthia McLelland had eight.

"He told me that he had to shoot her an extra time because she was still moaning," Williams said said.

She told jurors that Cynthia McLelland had to die because she was a witness.

Kim and Eric Williams ate steaks to celebrate that evening. Then they drove to Lake Tawakoni that night to dump evidence, she said.

With her help, divers later recovered the Hasse murder weapon, a gun belonging to Kim Williams, and the mask used in the killing of Hasse.

Paul Johnson, Kim Williams' defense attorney, declined to comment on the details of the agreement, but said, "I'm hoping that we can get a resolution to this and put it behind us for the benefit of the communities and the families of the victims."

She got off easy imo.  Sentenced to just over thirteen years for each of the three deaths to give her 40 years.  What about the other murders that she helped plan and would have helped out in?  Should have been life without parole.  Will she serve ALL 40 years?  I'm thinking it won't be long before her defense attorneys try to bargain the time down for health issues.  She should never see life outside prison again.  How many people do you know that would not only have had knowledge of what was going on, but also helped drive get a way cars and etc.?  She may be an older person, but she still may hold hope of release.  I don't believe she should have ANY hope for anything at all.  JMHO

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/30/us-usa-texas-districtattorney-idUSKBN0K812Q20141230
Texas woman pleads guilty in revenge murder of prosecutors
December 30, 2014



Reuters) - A woman charged with helping her husband kill a Texas district attorney, his wife and an assistant district attorney pleaded guilty to murder on Tuesday.

Kim Williams, 48, accepted a plea deal to three counts of first-degree murder and will serve 40 years in prison, court officials said.
 ::snipping3::

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Eric-Williams-Sister-Speaks-out-About-Kim-Williams-Murder-Sentence-287065121.html
Eric Williams' Sister Speaks out About Kim Williams' Murder Sentence
December 29, 2014

I agree, her sentence is too light.  Life without parole would have been sufficient consideration (for her testimony) from the death sentence she deserves IMO.

In one of the videos I watched one of the family members said she had a conscience; I don't think so.   ::MonkeyNoNo::

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/27640473/wife-testifies-ex-judge-fatally-shot-3-for-revenge


She was as vengeful as he was or three people would not have died.  For all we know, she only fueled the fire.  She certainly didn't do anything to stop the madness!  JMO
 

BBM  If this is possibly true, it sure didn't do anything to harm his ability to elaborately plan/premeditate the murder of Mark Hasse and the McClellands, not to mention the other murders he planned but was arrested before he committed them.  ::MonkeyNoNo::  And what about Williams wifey-poo?  She knew all about it, helped him with it, drove the get a way cars and such.  Why didn't she seek help for him if he was having mental issues?   Why didn't she tell someone?  It was all preventable.  No new trial needed.  Too much evidence and his wife sang like a canary.  Suck it up Eric.  You got off easy.  There are innocent people dead by your hand and you are still living and breathing.


www.wfaa.com/story/news/crime/2015/01/17/kaufman-county-killer-seeks-new-trial/21917909/
Kaufman County killer seeks new trial
January 17, 2015

Eric Williams, the former Kaufman County justice of the peace who was sentenced to death last month for murdering District Attorney Mike McClelland and his wife in 2013, is asking for a new trial.

Public defender John Wright filed a motion on Friday asserting that a doctor has determined that Williams suffered a "probable prior brain injury" linked to "uncontrolled diabetes" that affected his judgment, behavior and emotion.

Wright argues that this "newly discovered evidence" could have saved his client from a death sentence.

The condemned man's attorney also contends that Judge John Snipes, who presided over Williams' murder trial, was "demonstrably biased in favor of a capital murder conviction."

At Williams' trial, prosecutors presented evidence linking him to the murders of Mike and Cynthia McClelland and the streetcorner assassination of prosecutor Mark Hasse. They said the defendant was motivated to kill after being convicted of stealing county property, then being removed from his JP post and stripped of his license to practice law.

Eric Williams' appeal for a new trial will be heard by 62nd District Court presiding Judge Webb Biard.