Couple Indicted in DA Slaying

Couple indicted in DA slaying, A grand jury has indicted a former justice of the peace and his wife on capital murder charges in the deaths of two Texas officials who were shot to death earlier this year, one at home with his wife and the other outside a courthouse.


Kim and Eric Williams were indicted by a grand jury in Kaufman County, Texas, in the deaths of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia, and Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse on Thursday.

Authorities allege that Eric Williams, 46, gunned down Hasse as he walked to the courthouse on Jan. 31, and killed the McClellands in their home over Easter weekend. Kim Williams, also 46, was allegedly in the getaway car during the killings.

Investigators matched spent shell casings found at the McLelland crime scene with a live round found at the McLelland crime scene with a live round found at a storage shed where Eric Williams stored large amounts of ammunition of various types and dozens of weapons. Both had been ejected from the same gun.
The cache of weapons was found after authorities said they received emails from someone who confessed to all three murders and threatened to harm more county officials, according to The Associated Press.

Investigators were able to trace the emails to a computer in the Williams' house, The AP reported; Eric Williams had allegedly rented a storage unit in a friend's name for his weapons.

Both suspects are expected to be tried for capital murder and could face the death penalty.

Eric Williams, who practiced family law in Kaufman County for more than 10 years according to the AP, is being held in lieu of $23 million bail; Kim Williams is being held on lieu of $10 million bail.

The Kaufman County DA's office and a judge previously assigned to the case have recused themselves because of their connections to the victims. Special prosecutors will be assigned.

Kaufman County is about 35 miles southeast of Dallas.