Affidavit: Wife of former Kaufman Co. JP confesses to Kaufman County murders

Affidavit: Wife of former Kaufman Co. JP confesses to Kaufman County murders from Lauren Callahan on Vimeo.

KAUFMAN COUNTY, TX (KLTV) – The wife of a former North Texas justice of the peace was charged with capital murder after confessing to her involvement in the three shooting deaths of the local district attorney, his wife and an assistant prosecutor, authorities said Wednesday.

According to the arrest affidavit, Kim Williams killed Kaufman County prosecutor Mark Hasse, as well as Kaufman County district attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia. In an interview with police, Kim Williams gave investigators details about the murders that were not available to the public. Kim Williams told police that her husband, Eric Williams was involved in the murder plot. However, Eric Williams has not been charged in the murders at this time.

The affidavit says Kim Lene Williams “described in detail her role along with that of her husband” but was unclear on who she said committed the shooting.

Judicial records show 46-year-old Kim Williams was booked into the Kaufman County Jail at 2:58 a.m. on Wednesday. She is being held on a 10 million dollar bond.

Former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams was jailed on a terroristic threat charge over the weekend after authorities executed several search warrants to investigate his home.

Mike and Cynthia McLelland were found shot to death in their Forney home on March 30, a month after Mark Hasse was gunned down while walking to the Kaufman County Courthouse on January 31.

County Judge Bruce Wood said his courthouse employees have a sense of relief that the case is moving forward.

“Even though this charge of capital murder has occurred with perhaps another charge coming later on, sometime with Mr. Williams, we’re still in a state of shock and disbelief,” Wood said.

Wood worked with Mark Hasse and Mike McLelland and said Kim Williams’s arrest is the”beginning stage of the justice process.”

“Quite honestly, this is a troubling, this is a tragic series of events that none of would have ever expected to occur in our county,” Wood said. “There is a sense of relief that perhaps this case is moving forward with the arrest and charge of Mrs. Williams.”

Wood said today that Mike McLelland told him the day of Mark Hasse’s murder that Eric Williams was the person police should be investigating.

“My belief was certainly he would be investigated and was investigated, and the other discussions I had with Mr. McLelland was, there was very little evidence at the crime scene and that hurt as far as the investigation was concerned,” Wood said.

“I don’t think anybody could have written a novel, maybe, that would have played out this story like it has done,” he added.

Carol Altom lives on the same block as the Williams and was good friends with Cynthia McLelland.

“I don’t know why she had to die over this. I really don’t,” she said. “I can understand the DA and the assistant, but not her. She had nothing to do with it.”

Altom says she was shocked to hear the news of Kim and Eric Williams’s arrests.

“I can’t believe they did it, if he did do it. I’m not sure he did yet. But I’m amazed if it is the truth,” she said.

In March 2012, Eric Williams was prosecuted by the Kaufman County district attorney’s office for stealing equipment from Kaufman County. He was convicted and was removed from office. After that case, Hasse and Mike McLelland began carrying handguns because they believed Eric Williams was a threat to their safety.

A search warrant obtained on Monday shows that the Williams’ home was searched in connection with the murders of Kaufman County Prosecutor Mark Hasse, and Kaufman County DA Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia.

Additional Links

· Kaufman County Murders Arrest Affidavit (PDF)