2008-05-10

On May 10, 2008, at 5:52 PM, officers were sent to 2511 N. Orange to meet family members on a welfare check. When the officers checked the house they found Max Stanhope, W/M 77, deceased in his bedroom the apparent victim of a homicide. It appeared that Mr. Stanhope had walked in on a burglary in progress, where coins and cash were stolen, after returning home from getting groceries.

It was determined that Mr. Stanhope had been murdered at least 2 days before he was found. During the investigation it was discovered that Mr. Stanhope’s home had been broken into on April 21, 2008 and the same room was ransacked during this burglary. Mr. Stanhope had been severely beaten and stabbed which caused his death.

On June 23, 2008 the Special Crimes unit conducted a third neighborhood canvass and obtained a nickname on a subject who had been in this area around the time of the murder. This nickname was found to belong to Deshawnqee Williams, B/M 17.

Evidence collected from the scene was compared to Williams and it was determined he had been inside of Mr. Stanhope home. A Burglary of a Habitation warrant was issued from Williams.

With the assistance of the Amarillo Swat team, the Narcotics unit and the Lubbock Police Department Williams was arrested in Lubbock, Texas on June 20, 2008 without incidence.

Williams was questioned about this homicide and has since been charged and indicted for Capital Murder. The case against Williams is still pending a trial in Potter County.