The shocking storyline of the murders of Kaufman County Assistant D.A. Mark Hasse, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, and his wife Cynthia, continued as Sheriff David Byrnes announced that former justice of the peace Eric Williams has been charged with three counts of capital murder. This comes just one day after Williams' wife Kim was also charged with capital murder in connection with the three killings.
The shocking storyline of the murders of Kaufman County Assistant D.A. Mark Hasse, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, and his wife Cynthia, continued as Sheriff David Byrnes announced that former justice of the peace Eric Williams has been charged with three counts of capital murder. This comes just one day after Williams' wife Kim was also charged with capital murder in connection with the three killings.
A press conference was held at the old Kaufman County Jail in Kaufman, Texas on April 18, 2013. Sheriff Byrnes announced that Eric Williams, who was already in custody on a $3 million bond, was officially charged for the murders of the McLellands and Mr. Hasse. Williams is alleged to have shot and killed Hasse in a parking lot near the Kaufman County Courthouse on January 31, 2013. He is also alleged to have shot and killed Mike and Cynthia McLelland in their Forney home on March 30, 2013. His bond is now $23 million. Kim Williams is being held on a $10 million bond. Eric Williams had previously been prosecuted by Hasse and McLelland for the theft of three computer monitors and was found guilty in 2012.
According to the Sheriff, Kim Williams admitted her role in all three murders, indicating that she had been the getaway driver in both cases. Kim Williams told authorities that Eric Williams was the shooter in all three killings. Eric Williams has refused to speak with investigators. On Friday, April 12, the FBI searched the Williams' home and the home of a relative living nearby. That search led to authorities charging Eric Williams with making a terrorist threat via a computer they confiscated during the search. Williams allegedly threatened that another county official would be killed if certain demands were not met. What those demands were have not yet been released to the public. Sheriff Byrnes said the investigation is still ongoing and he urged anyone who may have additional information about the murders to come forward.
Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw gave the following statement, “Today's announcement underscores the outstanding commitment by our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively track down and capture those cowards who would commit or contemplate such heinous acts. Numerous law enforcement and criminal justice agencies – notably the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Texas Rangers, have been tirelessly working together in this investigation, and have committed an extraordinary level of investigative resources to collect and analyze evidence, pursue leads, and identify the suspects now charged with carrying out the senseless and tragic murders of three innocent and brave Texans.”
Forney Mayor Darren Rozell reacted to the news of the arrests in this case, telling inForney.com, “Our Sheriff's Department, working with the FBI and other agencies, has handled the investigation well and it appears that it may be nearing a close. While this is a sad, strange twist, we all look forward to justice being served, and a sense of closure for the McLelland and Hasse families.”
Cheryl Mason, a friend of Mike and Cynthia McLelland said, “I am elated that they finally have the two individuals who caused these horrific murders, behind bars where they should be. At the same time there is an overwhelming sense of sadness weighing on my heart. It is a shame that three outstanding, honorable, pillars of our community had to be sacrificed. We are all so very thankful to the various local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for their diligent efforts in apprehending the Williams', and we know that ultimately justice will prevail.”
Katie Vrana of Forney knew Mark Hasse and thought highly of the dedicated prosecutor. She said this about the arrests of Eric and Kim Williams, “When I heard that Eric Williams was the prime suspect, and then his wife Kim, I had mixed emotions. I was shocked, saddened, and even disappointed. In trying to process the deaths of Mark, Mike, and Cynthia, I was comforted by the illusion that it would eventually bring down something larger like a drug cartel or violent prison gang...that their deaths were about a larger purpose. To know now it was about the theft of three computers and the loss of health insurance feels like a sucker punch.”
The inForney.com staff will continue to bring you additional details in this case in the coming days.
