Police Are Hoping For Tips to Solve 2003 Murder

Excerpt

An Amarillo business owner is killed inside his home and his killer is still on the loose.

Originally published: October 26, 2017

An Amarillo business owner is killed inside his home and his killer is still on the loose.

Donald Lutz was found shot to death inside his North Amarillo home on November 2, 2003.

“The one thing investigators did learn is that the last time Mr. Lutz was seen alive was October 31, 2003, after he left his business that he owned on South Coulter. He was anticipating trick or treaters coming to his house so he was in a hurry to get home, he actually shut the business down a little early for that to happen,” said Lt. Erick Bohannon with the Special Crimes Unit.

Neighbors apparently noticed they hadn’t seen him in a couple days and contacted Amarillo Police to conduct a welfare check.

When police arrived at the home, they found broken glass and Lutz dead.

Lieutenant Bohannon says police interviewed several people shortly after the murder but hit a dead end.

“We are still in the same place we were back in 2003, we have no suspect in custody in this case and that is what we want to do is to bring somebody to justice for his murder,” said Bohannon.

Even after nearly 14 years, Bohannon is hoping to give Lutz and his family justice.

“We are talking about an unsolved case, it has been a long, long time, we need to bring some closure to the family, you know, specifically his siblings, his daughter who still lives here in Amarillo and we would like to bring some closure to them.”

If you have any information that could lead police to a suspect, contact the Special Crimes Unit.

You can remain anonymous.

Unsolved homicide: 'Honorable man' died awaiting trick-or-treaters

JANELLE STECKLEIN

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Donald Lutz left work early to prepare for Halloween, never realizing the holiday would be his last.

When police discovered the 56-year-old shot to death inside his home at 328 W. Studebaker Ave. on Nov. 2, 2003, they found his front door unlocked and a full bowl of Halloween candy meant for trick-or-treaters just inside the door.

Potter-Randall Specials Crimes Lt. Gary Trupe said investigators think Lutz was waiting for trick-or-treaters to arrive, but his killer reached him first.

The shooter fired a medium-caliber firearm through the front glass door, then walked in and fired several more times, making sure Lutz was dead, Trupe said.

Then the killer walked out, Trupe said. Nothing was stolen. Neighbors never knew anything was wrong.

More than seven years later, Lutz's killer remains at large.

Trupe said Lutz, known to friends as Don, was last seen alive at about 4 or 5 p.m. on Halloween when he left Kwik Kar Lube and Tune, the business he owned at 4400 S. Coulter St.