2006-04-18
On April 18, 2006, Claude Robertson, 74, and Allen Hazelwood, 52, were found murdered west of Amarillo in Potter County near the community of Bushland. Both Mr. Robertson and Mr. Hazelwood had been shot with a shotgun on property owned by Mr. Robertson. At the same time, Mr. Robertson’s home was broken reportedly into and property taken.
On April 22, 2006, Sergeant John Coffee was able to locate where the stolen property had been pawned, enabling him to identify a possible suspect. An arrest warrant was issued for Michael Ryan, 29, for Possession of Stolen Property. With assistance from the SWAT team, Ryan was arrested as he tried to flee.
During the course of the investigation information was obtained that implicated Ryan and a second suspect, Jason Williams, 29 in this murder. Both Ryan and Williams were charged with Capital Murder after it was determined that this murder occurred while the victims were being robbed. The weapon used in this murder was recovered.
On September 28, 2006, Ryan pled guilty to Capital Murder and received a life sentence in TDC. A trial for Williams has not yet been scheduled.