Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes stood somber in front of reporters at the Kaufman County Law Enforcement Center on Easter Sunday, as he gave updated information on the double murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia McLelland. The couple were found shot to death inside their Forney home in the Shamrock Ridge addition near FM 1641 and Helms Trail.
Sources have told inForney.com that close family friends of the McLellands became concerned on Saturday when they could not reach the couple. They went to their house to check on them and found their cars in the driveway, but no one answered the door. Upon discovering the victims inside the house, they immediately called 9-1-1.
Standing in front of the State of Texas and American flags that had just this morning been lowered to half-staff to honor the fallen D.A., Sheriff Byrnes offered little new information. He confirmed that a call came into the KCSO just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, that two people had been shot in a home just outside the Forney City limits. The Sheriff stated that two deceased individuals were found inside the home, both shot to death. He identified the victims as D.A. McLelland and his wife.
Sheriff Byrnes said that there will be increased security at the Kaufman Courthouse tomorrow, but he was unsure if the District Attorney's Office would be open. He declined to discuss security for other possible targets in Kaufman County, though sources close to the investigation have said that local judges, prosecutors, and even the Sheriff himself have been under additional protection since last night. Byrnes described the shooting as “unnerving to the law enforcement community and unnerving to our community at large.”Forney Mayor Darren Rozell said that he last saw McLelland on Tuesday, March 26 at the Taste of Forney event held at Forney High School. He was saddened by the murders and asked that the community pray for the McLelland family and the investigators who are searching for the murderer. He also wanted to calm Forney residents and said, “It appears that Mike was targeted...it was not a random crime. We are a close community so we need to continue looking out for our neighbors and be aware of our surroundings.”
Though Sheriff Byrnes said that McLelland never told him he was in fear for his life, Cynthia McLelland did express to co-workers at the Terrell State Hospital that she was scared for herself and her husband after Kaufman County ADA Mark Hasse was gunned down near the Courthouse on January 31, 2013.
Byrnes said that a wide range of law enforcement agencies are working the case, including his office, the FBI, ATF, Marshalls, and the Texas Rangers. He declined to comment as to whether the D.A.'s murder is related to the murder of Mark Hasse, or to give details on the shooting.
InForney.com will continue to follow the story and report any updates in the case. If you have any information regarding this crime, please contact the Kaufman County Crimestoppers tipline at 877-847-7522 or go to their website at www.kaufmancountycrimestoppers.org.