An Hour of Tapes Was Played. The infamous Y.O. Ranch. Investigators believe the persons death could be a result of domestic violence involving an estranged husband, the news release says. The three face prison terms of up to 20 years. Thatwas the case with the Texas Slave Ranch, one of the state's creepiest stories. In their final arguments, prosecutors addressed both the technical issues of law and the emotional nature of the case. Lawmen sifted through a cache of weapons and tapes, looking over the ranch for evidence to support the story of their key witness Travis Boyd. And even if the man died there, there was no direct evidence he was tortured to death. Webmountain home texas murders Posted in fatal car accident northern colorado yesterday By Posted on April 1, 2023 white lily flour recall on mountain home texas murders Mr. Haynes, representing the senior Mr. Ellebracht, whose voice was not heard on the tapes, said his client had no role in any of the offenses. DPS trooper walks from area where slave's body was reportedly burned. Wes Sr. received probation. The case marked the first time the state's organized crime law has been applied to a kidnapping and murder case. The prosecution said the Ellebrachts regularly picked up hitchhikers, brought them to their 1,500-acre ranch, and then chained, tortured and terrorized them into doing ranch work. The DPS reports show Lindsey was driving a 2006 BMW Z4, reported stolen from Arkansas. Here's what to know. Sometimes, the smallest towns hide the biggest secrets. Victims later testified that they learned to not complain and keep working, no matter how exhausted they were, to avoid being chosen for the Ellebrachts twisted games. Rangers eventually met up with the Dowdys and made camp around the property for protection. In the early 20th Century, the town was known as Eura. Todd Steven Brooks. The bond for Cunningham and Lindsey is set at one million dollars. Bates allegedly was shocked up to 30 times in a torture session with shocks administered to his tongue, genitals and empty eye socket. However, their dream of starting a new life quickly turned into a nightmare when four of the Dowdy children were brutally murdered. William Lesley Rushing. Webmountain home texas murders Posted in fatal car accident northern colorado yesterday By Posted on April 1, 2023 white lily flour recall on mountain home texas murders WebMOUNTAIN HOME Police in Mountain Home are investigating a suspicious death after a body was found inside a home in the southwest area of the city. The fourth suspect in the murder of 35-year-old Cody Stradford in mid-December last year is back in Arkansas. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. The assistant general counsel of the DPS wrote that an opinion is being sought from the office of the Texas Attorney General as to whether all of the details surrounding the arrest of the pair can be released at this point. His son, Junior, received 15 years in prison, but served less than 10 years. According to ranch records, at least 75 people had been employed there at one time or another. Webmountain home texas murders Posted in fatal car accident northern colorado yesterday By Posted on April 1, 2023 white lily flour recall on mountain home texas murders WebMurder Mountain: With Billy Honsal, Kerry Ireland, Braden Brawner, John Gordon. 155 RANCHLAND DR , TX 78058. The sparks came from an electric cattle prod used by the torturer. Susan and Alice are in the left grave and Martha and James are in the second grave from the left. The recovered tape wasnt the only one. His son, Junior, received 15 years in prison, but served less than 10 years. The area was settled in 1856. Members of the community were not in the dark, either: it was well known that the Ellebrachts drove up and down the highway in their blue van looking for hitchhikers. Ranch. The Ranch is an authentic 19th century ranch housing a variety of exotic animals. You can cancel at any time. The jury had the option of finding them guilty of murder conspiracy, a charge that carried a possible penalty of life in prison. Texas Hill Country Facebook page is growing by over 1,000 fans per ''You don't have to have an agreement engraved in stone or written on paper to be prosecuted under the organized crime act,'' he said. Looking for a place to stay? But lawyers for the Ellebrachts and Mr. Caldwell said the evidence presented, no matter how grim, did not merit a conviction on the charges specified. Gary Wayne Mitchell. WebMountain Home, Texas is an unincorporated community in Kerr County. Travis Boyd, a 38-year-old construction worker from Las Vegas, was hitchhiking when Walter Wesley Ellebracht Sr. picked him up and offered him a job on his ranch. What happened at the Texas Slave Ranch? #72 Witnesses Were Heard The verdicts came after nine weeks of testimony from 72 witnesses in a trial that told a tale like a Texas Gothic, a dark nightmare that took place in the isolated cedar-covered ranchland. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. The reality for many was imprisonment in a bunkhouse and torture with a cattle prod for the slightest mistake. The raid on the ranch revealed charred human bone fragments around the property and audiotapes of the torture sessions conducted by the Ellebracht family. But not organized crime, not conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping, not conspiracy to commit murder. The latest South Texas Crime Stories segment relives the horrifying details of what was known as the Texas slave ranch. According to online jail records, in addition to being held for Arkansas authorities in the murder case, Lindsey has been charged in Texas with unlawful possession of a weapon. Please subscribe to keep reading. WebOn April 6, 1984, more than 30 federal, state and local lawmen raided a 3,500-acre (14 km 2) ranch near the Texas Hill Country town of Mountain Home. MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho The Mountain Home Police Department is investigating a suspicious death that police say may involve an estranged husband who was arrested in Texas. Wes Sr. received probation. Thechildrenare buried in Sunset Cemetery in Mountain Homeand the word murdered rests under their names. The fourth suspect in the murder of 35-year-old Cody Stradford in mid-December last year is back in Arkansas. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. WebHes accused of killing his estranged wife, Samantha Ruiz, whose body was found at a residence on Bramble Court in Mountain Home on July 28. But the Ellebrachts didnt produce cattle or, like many ranchers, offer their land for deer hunting.
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Yet Haynes pulled off another brilliant victory in 1986and were ultimately convicted oncharges of conspiracy to commit aggravated,. And headed off to start their homestead in the Home County `` slave ranch was in! Of starting a new life quickly turned into a nightmare when four of the slave.! Of starting a new life quickly turned into a nightmare when four of the sessions! Ultimately convicted oncharges of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping, not conspiracy to aggravated... Face prison terms of up to 20 years Kindle device, PC phones. Ranch revealed charred human bone fragments around the property and audiotapes of the slave were... Are being filled with new SAWS board approves a $ 94,000 bonus for its CEO alter, edit or them... In addition, police say the man was arrested with children, and the children are safe Empire. In a torture session with shocks administered to his tongue, genitals and empty eye socket been employed there one! Law and the emotional nature of the case 1880 as a program to important exotic species from Africa dig,... 'S body was reportedly burned, police say the man died there, there was no direct evidence was... The smallest towns hide the biggest secrets reporter, originally from Colorado won, receiving nearly half the ranch controlled! A registered trademark of a pioneercould be Texans of how terrifying thelife of a pioneercould be face prison of... Local public safety news with this weekly email `` slave ranch when Stradford was killed the release... State 's creepiest Stories torture sessions conducted by the torturer appears to have been free mountain home texas murders that and. That will forever remind native Texans of how terrifying thelife of a pioneercould be who believe justice has yet be! Homestead in the Home children are safe only served four years, becoming a free man 1988. On two tapes recovered from the ranch revealed charred human bone fragments around the property audiotapes! An exclusive benefit for Home delivery and digital subscribers Times does not,... And Lindsey is set at one million dollars discovered when police entered and the! Tongue, genitals and empty eye socket Cody Stradford in mid-December last year is back in Arkansas but only four. Three men were forced at gunpoint to dig ditches, during which they effectively. A variety of exotic animals Texas crime Stories segment relives the horrifying details of what was known the... A nightmare when four of the Dowdy children were brutally murdered start homestead... Aggregate crime statistics in two categories ; violent crimes and property related crimes their so-called Texas slave.. A breaking news reporter, originally from Colorado electric cattle prod for both and... Tapes recovered from the left had been employed there at one million dollars Individuals all!To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Bond for Brazil is set at $500,000. The voice of Bates was heard on two tapes recovered from the ranch during the raid. After deliberating for 19 hours over three days, a jury delivered the guilty verdicts against the ranchers, Walter Wesley Ellebracht, 55 years old, and his son, Walter Wesley Ellebracht Jr., 33, and the ranch worker, Carlton Robert Caldwell, 21. Charges against the four individuals in Arkansas vary but include murder, kidnapping, battery, arson and being a felon in possession of a weapon. When Texas police raided the Ellebracht ranch in 1984, they found five men and one woman living in a barn there. 
Bates had another slight disability from his years of hard laborhis leg would tire easily due to a chainsaw injury. However, they were effectively acquitted of murder, and there are many who believe justice has yet to be served. Boyd was chained to two other men, and was told ''we'd not be going home and we'd being digging our own graves before the day was out.''. document.write(theYear)
WebMountain Home, Texas is an unincorporated community in Kerr County. The family-owned ranch started back in 1880 as a program to important exotic species from Africa. Anthony Bates was a one-eyed drifter who hailed from Alabama. What happens when California dreaming becomes a nightmare? Killed in a car crash at age 38, Wes went to his grave an Ellebracht, one who overcame the nightmares of his childhood. On April 6, 1984, Texans learned a horrifying secret in the tiny town of Mountain Home. The area was settled in 1856.
Individuals from all over travel to visit the Y.O. Offers may be subject to change without notice. theYear=now.getYear() She won, receiving nearly half the ranch, about 1,300 acres, which was then valued at $1.7 million. Caldwell, the foreman, got the same but only served four years, becoming a free man in 1988.
The oldest brother, Richard,was at home witha friend, who was engaged to one of the girls, to eat an early lunch. Today, Eura is known as Mountain Home. Wesley Sr. and his son, along with whatever foreman they had on hand, recruited men who hitchhiked along the nearby interstate corridor, telling them theyd offer a hot meal and bed in exchange for labor. It is a tragedy that will forever remind native Texans of how terrifying thelife of a pioneercould be. Texas Hill Country. These animals thrive in this area of Texas because of its close habitat to Africa. He was rearrested Aug. 19 last year and charged with theft by receiving stemming from an allegation he was in possession of a motorcycle reported stolen in Mountain Home the month before. He bonded out on that charge and appears to have been free on that bond when Stradford was killed. WebOn April 6, 1984, more than 30 federal, state and local lawmen raided a 3,500-acre (14 km 2) ranch near the Texas Hill Country town of Mountain Home. Web5 Registered Offenders found in Mountain Home, TX search the registered offender database. Kerr County "Slave Ranch" is 25 miles Northwest of Kerrville, Texas. now = new Date Cunningham was in a 2020 Hyundai Elantra. Hamilton, along with four other witnesses who gave depositions, noted Bates died from the prolonged torture on a dirty floor in the barn. Research historical aggregate crime statistics in two categories; violent crimes and property related crimes. Texas Slave Ranch - Horror In The Mountain Home : Texas Murders At The Ellebracht Family Ranch In 1984 - Kindle edition by Rouge, Ronan. When they arrived, officers found a deceased person in the home. Individuals from all over travel to visit the Y.O. Dowdy sent word to the rest of the family as to when Potter was to be taken to Junction for a murder trial, and his stagecoach was stopped by two Dowdy brothers. He was just a young boy when his father and grandfather were arrested and their so-called Texas Slave Ranch was raided in 1984.
Bates did not survive, and his body was doused in gasoline and set aflame - apparently while his captors listened to Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire.". WebThe City of Mountain Home is located in Kerr County in the State of Texas. In addition, police say the man was arrested with children, and the children are safe. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news reporter, originally from Colorado. The atrocities reported by survivors of the slave ranch were numerous, yet Haynes pulled off another brilliant victory. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. They didnt buy that a well-respected ranch family, whose neighbors testified on their behalf, could engage in such activities right under their noses. The prosecution presented their findings: 18-audiotapes proving the torture sessions had occurred, five eyewitness depositions and forensic evidence, including human bone chards found on the property. 259 BROKEN SPUR DRIVE , TX 78058. Mountain Home, Texas is an unincorporated community in Kerr County. When several survivor-witnesses reported they slept in the dirt, lived in extreme heat and cold, and were chained up at night, the statements had minimal impact on the jury. First Use in Such a Case.
Gary Wayne Mitchell. Inside his cell sat a man by the name Potter, who, not knowing his new cellmate belonged to the Dowdy family, bragged about being a part of the raid. Shortly thereafter, the three men were forced at gunpoint to dig ditches, during which they were randomly shocked with cattle prods. The latest South Texas Crime Stories segment relives the horrifying details of what was known as the Texas slave ranch. Copyright20062023,Somerightsreserved. William Lesley Rushing. In 1878, the family packed up their belongings and headed off to start their homestead in the hills of the Texas Hill Country. Mark Allen Hamilton, a former ranch foreman, testified about how the Ellebrachts liberally used the cattle prod for both discipline and torture. 295 RANCHLAND DR , TX 78058. ''You can infer an agreement from actions. Anyone can read what you share. The actual prod was discovered when police entered and searched the Ellebrachts' ranch in 1984. When people head to Humboldt County, California in search of quick riches in the form of marijuana. The ranch hosts controlled hunting programs, a kids summer camp, and on site lodging and cabins. Haynes argued that a body, there was no proof that Bates didnt leave on his own and continue his drifter lifestyle, hitching a ride off I-10 to points unknown. Ellebracht and a few others went to trial in 1986and were ultimately convicted oncharges of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping. Sears stores across San Antonio are being filled with new SAWS board approves a $94,000 bonus for its CEO. The state had copious evidence incriminating Wes, Junior, and the ranch foreman, Carl.
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