Texas Man Charged with Capital Murder After Woman Found Dead in Brazos River

Michael Wayne Hatcher, 50, was arrested after Leah Dawn Adams, 32, was found face up in the Brazos River in Mineral Wells. Blood-stained clothing and the victim's belongings were found at his residence.

Suspect Claimed Victim Was 'Flirting' Before She Was Found Dead in Texas River

A 50-year-old Texas man has been charged with capital murder after a woman's body was discovered in the Brazos River in Mineral Wells on Aug. 27, Law & Crime reports. Michael Wayne Hatcher is now held in the Palo Pinto County Jail without bond.

The victim, 32-year-old Leah Dawn Adams, was found lying face up in the water at Oaks Crossing — a historic crossing point once used for cattle drives — in the early morning hours of that Wednesday, according to the Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Office. A blanket lay beside her on the shore. Investigators observed visible signs of severe trauma to her face.

Nearby, Adams' Dodge Ram 1500 was fully engulfed in flames, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by Dallas-based ABC affiliate WFAA and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. An open knife was recovered on the shoreline. Downstream, investigators found Adams' driver's license.

Suspect identified through cellphone data

Deputies quickly called in the Texas Rangers to assist with the investigation. Family members of Adams told law enforcement that her cellphone had last transmitted a location signal to a residence in Mineral Wells — the home Hatcher shared with another woman.

Palo Pinto County Sheriff J.R. Patterson announced Hatcher's arrest later that same day.

During an initial interview with investigators, Hatcher said he had been fishing at the river on Aug. 26 when he encountered Adams, who "had begun flirting with him," according to the affidavit. He said the two later rode together in her truck to a gas station. He claimed Adams never entered his own vehicle but did sit on the tailgate.

Hatcher also told investigators he left the river "sometime after midnight" and returned "right before sunrise." He acknowledged that "only he and Leah were at the river together after midnight," authorities said. When he came back the following morning, he stated he saw Adams' truck but not Adams herself.

Blood found on jeans, shirt, and inside the vehicle

A detective examining Hatcher during the interview noted a "transfer stain consistent with blood under the front pocket of Hatcher's jeans," rangers wrote in the affidavit.

The woman living with Hatcher told investigators she found him asleep on a wooden bench in the front yard when she woke up to take her children to school that morning. She identified herself as the legal owner of the Ford F-150 that Hatcher had driven to the river and consented to a search of the truck.

Inside the F-150, investigators found blood, a bloody and sand-covered shirt, and a backpack. The backpack contained a journal, inside which was Adams' expired driver's license — at which point the search was paused pending a warrant.

Additional evidence seized under warrant

After returning with a search warrant, investigators seized human hair, a blue shirt stained with blood, a Taurus GX4 handgun, and a backpack containing Adams' belongings.

Hatcher faces one count of capital murder. He remains detained in the Palo Pinto County Jail without bond.

Source: Law & Crime