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.
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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.
Eric Williams, a former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace, and his wife, Kim Williams, have both been charged and indicted for the murders of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, and his wife Cynthia McLelland.
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.
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.
Eric Williams, a former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace, and his wife, Kim Williams, have both been charged and indicted for the murders of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse, Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, and his wife Cynthia McLelland.
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.