2015-04-14
Man pleads guilty to 2014 murder of wife
Today, the 47th District Attorney's Office said Stewart pled guilty to murder and to an agreed punishment of 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Tue, 14 Apr 2015 16:51:27 GMT —
A man pleaded guilty to murder today after he confessed to stabbing his wife in an Amarillo bar in 2014.
In October of last year, we reported a stabbing at 6th Street Saloon in Amarillo that turned into a homicide investigation after the victim, 24-year-old Holly Combs, died as a result of her injuries.
READ MORE: Victim dies after stabbing Friday night
Details from the 47th District Attorney's Office show that Holly Combs and William Chet Stewart, 35, had been living together for two years and were recently married at the time. The couple lived in Ropesville. The couple had been arguing somewhat in the days leading up to the stabbing, and Stewart believed Combs was going to leave him.
On the night of the stabbing, the couple drove to Amarillo to meet friends at the 6th Street Saloon. Witnesses describe Combs as looking upset. And at one point in the evening, Stewart jumped up from his seat and stabbed her once in the neck. He then pulled out the knife, walked out of the bar, and drove away.
Some witnesses had first aid training and began attempting to treat the victim until EMS arrived. The stab wound severed several major arteries and veins down to the spine, and caused massive blood loss. The blood loss was so severe that it cause brain death.
Stewart drove to a friend's house and confessed that he stabbed Combs. A friend took the weapon from him, convinced him to turn himself in, then drove him to the Randall County Sheriff's Office, where he admitted his guilt. He was later transported to the Amarillo Police Department where he again confessed to detectives.
READ MORE: Suspect in weekend stabbing given murder charge
Today, the 47th District Attorney's Office said Stewart pleaded guilty to murder and to an agreed punishment of 50 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He will have to serve 25 years day for day before he will become eligible for parole. He also waived all appellate rights. Members of the victim's family were present in court for the plea.
Information from the District Attorney's Office show Stewart is documented and confirmed as Aryan Brotherhood with multiple misdemeanor charges such as assault and theft. He was imprisoned for possession of controlled substance in 2005 and again in 2009 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.