Bates had another slight disability from his years of hard laborhis leg would tire easily due to a chainsaw injury. According to reports, the vehicle appeared to have been there for some time. The ranch was raided in 1984 and the operation shut down. He later was indicted, along with the Ellebrachts, for his role in Bates' torture and death. MOUNTAIN 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. On April 6, 1984, more than 30 federal, state and local lawmen raided a 3,500-acre (14km2) ranch near the Texas Hill Country town of Mountain Home. It expanded my knowledge of humanity, that good and bad can live side by side.. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. They offer 3-hour guided tours of the 50,00 acre ranch. Benton County sheriffs deputies and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Hendricks in mid-December last year at her residence in Siloam Springs. By then, much of the Texas Slave Ranch had been sold in pieces to fund the Ellebrachts' defense. According to the Baxter County Sheriffs Office, 52-year-old Lawrence Olson of Mountain Home has been charged with breaking into Cunninghams residence along Robinson Point Road. But details that emerged after the April 1984 raid, triggered by an escaped worker's call to the Texas Rangers, surprised even the family's closest friends. In the early 20th Century, the town was known as Eura. Restaurateur Joe Marino Jr. said his parents bought the Ellebrachts' key chains for a quarter and sold them for 35 cents at their former business, Big Joe's Country Store, for years. His wife, Joyce, was known for taking potshots at rocks and bottles she placed near the men and enjoyed seeing how close she could come to shooting the workers. She has degrees in journalism and criminology. From left, Walter Wesley Ellebracht Sr., Walter Wesley Ellebracht Jr., Leona Ellebracht, the young Walter Wesley Ellebracht III, attorney Richard Racehorse Haynes and Joyce Ellebracht are seen in 1986. Ranch for an experience you wont forget! 5-23-1986. One worker, Anthony Bates, died after being tortured with the cattle prod. We will be posting stories about this city such as history, news, special events and more here, stay tuned! Scott Riggs in court Feb. 13, 2019. Because Gore's body wasn't found until that night, the first newspaper headlines didn't appear for . Ellebracht III was arrested as a teen, when a group of friends stole beer from a convenience store and broke the window of a car, but was trying to get the record expunged, Walls said. Olson is alleged to have told deputies he had permission from Cunningham to be in the residence, and that he had made entry on Christmas Day only to take a nap.. Individuals from all over travel to visit the Y.O. In the case of Bates, who couldnt work, Hamilton witnessed the man being electrocuted up to 30 times, including strikes to his tongue and genitals. Ellebracht Sr. aspired to be the key chain king of the Texas Hill Country, but lost more than he sold, according to a 1986 newspaper article still displayed on the wall beneath four key chains at Bill's BBQ in Kerrville. I knew what I was doing; I had options. A trial date of June 8 is now set in Madison County Circuit Court on those charges. There were a lot of hitchhikers, but they were never held forcibly. Elon Musk? The officers were responding to reports that workers on the ranch, kidnapped from Interstate 10,[1] were being forced to work and that at least one worker had died and was cremated on the premises. Police say Armstrong shot Ann Moriah Wilson, 25, several times with a 9mm handgun on May 11, shortly after she arrive in town to compete in a mountain bike competition. Rain: 7am to 7am: .00 Month: 0.00 Year: 20.21 Recorded temps: High: 63 Low: 45, Photos: Skylar Brazil and Ashley Hendricks. I tried to teach him right from wrong.. These animals thrive in this area of Texas because of its close habitat to Africa. The decision to change his name in hopes of distancing himself from the ranch didn't last long, Walls said. Home >> Homicides - 2007 January 1 - December 29, 2007 (86 Murders) Date of Murder: January 2, 2007 Victim Name: Connie Whitson, 46 . Haynes was a big name who showed up at the Kerrville County Courthouse every day driving a bright yellow Rolls Royce. The City of Mountain Home is located in Kerr County in the State of Texas. I knew what I was doing; I had options. He was just a young boy when his father and grandfather were arrested and their so-called Texas Slave Ranch was raided in 1984. Those stories have been around for years, but people and things have moved on.. Through the years, the 27-year-old Lindsey has been accused of possessing a defaced firearm, being a felon in possession of a weapon, residential burglary, theft of property, possession of contraband in the Baxter County Detention Center, theft by receiving and possessing drugs. And the victims were unsavory types whose testimony was suspect. When authorities showed up, they found people there that were being enslaved and tortured. theYear=theYear+1900 The infamous Y.O. Nine people were initially indicted: Ellebracht Sr., Ellebracht Jr., Joyce, Caldwell and five ranch workers. On April 6, 1984, Texans learned a horrifying secret in the tiny town of Mountain Home. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. In the 1970s and 80s, the Ellebrachts recruited the men knowing they wouldnt be missed, and wouldnt be believed. According to information provided to KTLO, Classic Hits & The Boot News by the Texas Department of Public Safety in response to a Freedom of Information request, Lindsey and Cunningham were in separate vehicles. We used old inner tubes, cedar and gasoline, Caldwell said. The ranch foreman, Caldwell, reported that torture did go on but claimed it was because the other workers hated Bates for being unable to do his fair share. Ellebracht III even tried to see the good in his father and grandfather, who picked up hitchhikers and promised them board in exchange for work. 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. There are several day-hunting services in the aera. He looked at the past and said, 'I'm here now, nobody can change that,' he said. He apparently bonded out of jail on the charge relating to the motorcycle theft and was free on that bond when Stradford was killed. Caldwell, the foreman, got the same but only served four years, becoming a free man in 1988. However, he has been accused of other crimes, including theft of property and intimidating a witness. A Department of Public Safety trooper walks away from an area where a body reportedly was burned on the Ellebracht ranch. Hes accused of killing his estranged wife, Samantha Ruiz, whose body was found at a residence on Bramble Court in Mountain Home on July 28. Joe Smith, who oversees Sunset Cemetery in Mountain Home, TX, stands near a landscaped section of the cemetery, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, where a stream runs through which is fed by a spring on what was the Ellebracht Ranch. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. You have permission to edit this article. Mountain Home Police were investigating a stabbing death that involved a mother and son Sunday night. The property was owned by 55-year-old Walter Ellebracht Sr. and his 33-year-old son, Junior, who made their income by chopping down cedar trees and selling the wood and cedar key chains to businesses in the San Antonio area. Last month, police reported that they found Ruizs body after conducting a welfare check when relatives said they hadnt heard from the family for several days. This page is not available in other languages. She's currently the court reporter and cohost of the podcast Texas Crime Stories. In the background is the barn where the prisoners were chained to bunk beds at night. After that first brush with the law, he had other criminal charges brought against him in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021. Stradfords body was placed in his own vehicle a silver Dodge Charger driven to a wooded area and set afire. In an opening statement made . However, they were effectively acquitted of murder, and there are many who believe justice has yet to be served. SUGAR LAND, Texas (KTRK) -- Investigators with Sugar Land police are searching for a suspect accused of shooting and killing a member of his own family. The mans family had posted notices offering a reward for information on his whereabouts and reported not having had contact with him since Dec. 4. A book was written about the ranch, The True Story of the Texas Slave Ranch How a Degenerate Ranching Family Got Away With Murder.[3]. No information is available as to what brought Brazil to this area. One of the slave ranch victims, Mark Allen Hamilton, claimed in a court deposition that even some of the victims participated in the tortureof fellow prisoners. A leader of the prison-based Mexican Mafia, Robert "Beaver" Perez was linked to more than 15 murders locally. The Ranch is an authentic 19th century ranch housing a variety of exotic animals. The latest South Texas Crime Stories segment relives the horrifying details of what was known as the Texas slave ranch. Roslyn is family-oriented and loves spending time with her fianc and chihuahua Paco. The ashes were scooped into two 55-gallon drums, according to published reports. Wes Sr. received probation. Gary Mitchusson of Forrest City has entered his appearance for Cunningham. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Police: Burley man committed home invasion, rape, other crimes, Man dies after falling into Snake River Canyon, UPS pilot's family files wrongful death lawsuit in Heyburn plane crash, Man who caused fatal crash in Twin Falls agrees to plea deal, 9 inducted into Southern Idaho Livestock Hall of Fame, Man chases would-be burglar from out of Twin Falls clubhouse, police say, Bull market: How a truck ride with a PRCA cowboy set up Jerome's Taylor for success, UPDATE: Idaho Sen. Ron Taylor, missing since this morning, has been found, Charges dropped against man accused of domestic assault, witness intimidation, August crime report: Shootings in Twin Falls, Burley, cold case arrest and more, Instagram mom convicted for fabricating story about kids' kidnapping, King Charles and Queen Camilla's will use thrones recycled from King George VI's coronation, Rare images captured of butterflies taking flight after emerging from chrysalis. 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. Others alleged that after Bates died, his body was doused in gasoline and set on fire while the father and son listened to Johnny Cashs Ring of Fire.. Group says they have a strong suspect as the infamous killer. Court records show that most of the cases involved drugs. Things to do in Seabrook: A guide to Washington's cozy Preorder 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' today. A suspect in the case has been arrested in Peco, Texas and is being held on a charge of failure to report a deceased person," police said. I raised him the best I knew how. Among the six people arrested and charged, only family members served prison time. Everyone knew the Ellebrachts drove a blue van and picked up hitchhikers to staff the key chain factory and do other work at the ranch. Has the 'Zodiac Killer' just been identified? Besides the torture tapes, also entered into evidence was one worker's poem, titled The Shack, and other recordings of the Ellebrachts putting workers on trial in the bunkhouse. James Waybern Hall: The murderer known as "Big Jim" killed 4 people, including his wife, in Arkansas between 1944 and 1945. Click links below to see charts for each crime category. The charges were initially murder and aggravated kidnapping, but the defendants ended up with light sentences after being convicted of conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping. She graduated from Del Mar College with an Associate's degree in political science and liberal arts. In 1878, the family packed up their belongings and headed off to start their homestead in the hills of the Texas Hill Country. Lindsey was held in the Hidalgo County, Texas, jail longer because he had been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm in that state. This is a carousel. Walter Wesley EllebrachtSr. and his extended family had lived in Mountain Home, TX,for generations, and they were known as decent folk. Cheri Jo Bates was killed in the 1960s in California. Our The atrocities reported by survivors of the slave ranch were numerous, yet Haynes pulled off another brilliant victory. Authorities believed him, and they mobilized to rescue five men and one woman from the ranch, strewn with 55-gallon drums and trash. appley manor christmas menu; damian seth azariah echols age; Contact Us. Some former neighbors still defend the family, despite the 1986 convictions of Ellebracht Sr., Ellebracht Jr., his only child, and Caldwell for conspiracy to commit aggravated kidnapping and murder for the death of Bates, a one-eyed drifter from Alabama. According to Hidalgo County, Texas jail records, Lindsey has been charged in that state with unlawful possession of a weapon. Using his charisma and ruthlessness to gain control within the gang, Perez was. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. Walter Wesley Ellebracht Sr. (from left), Walter Wesley Ellebracht Jr., Leona Ellebracht, the young Walter Wesley Ellebracht III, attorney Richard Racehorse Haynes and Joyce Ellebracht are seen in 1986. He was just a young boy when his father and grandfather were arrested and their so-called Texas Slave Ranch was raided in 1984. He cited thecase of Anthony Bates, who, due to an injured leg, was unable to work. Olson is in the Baxter County Detention Center with bond set at $25,000. The vehicle was described as having damage along the passengers side. In addition to the charges stemming from the murder, she has a criminal case open in Madison County. My son was a very caring person, and he did whatever he could to help anyone in need, said his mother, Joyce Esensee, 59, who was among those initially indicted for the crimes at the ranch. Walter Wesley Ellebracht III, the son of Jr and Joyce, was killed in an automobile accident Jan. 20 on Highway 290 just out side Fredericksburg. Nine years ago, her son won custody of Elizabeth and embraced single parenting, Esensee said. FREDERICKSBURG He was only 9 when the law raided his family's Kerr County homestead in 1984 and their surname, Ellebracht, became synonymous with kidnapping and torture, and their sprawling property given the nickname Texas Slave Ranch.. Hendricks also is charged with possession of methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy and fentanyl with the purpose to deliver, according to Madison County court records. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, no jury trials have been held for some time and will not be allowed to resume until next month. The state had copious evidence incriminating Wes, Junior, and the ranch foreman, Carl. In addition to murder charges, the 42-year-old Cunningham of rural Mountain Home is accused of arson, as is Lindsey. A weathered Texas Parks and Wildlife Department sign hangs on the locked gate, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, that leads to what was the Ellebracht Ranch on Highway 27 in Mountain Home, TX. Prairie Gal Designs - Etsy Store; Writer's Corner; My Bookshelf; mountain home texas murders. These Texas Slave Ranch facts illustrate a sordid chapter in the South's history. The family-owned ranch started back in 1880 as a program to important exotic species from Africa. The charts below are detailed crime statistics for the city of , Texas. Investigators report Lindsey and Cunningham have allegedly admitted to acquaintances they both shot Stradford at some point during the episode. According to reports, the vehicle appeared to have been there for some time. Ellebracht Sr. is the grandfather of Walter Wesley Ellebracht III, who was killed in an automobile accident Jan. 20 on Highway 290 just out side Fredericksburg. Lindseys is the most familiar name among those arrested. Family launches GoFundMe to help man shot during Fiesta in S.A. Man in critical condition after being shot twice in head in S.A. He would die within months on a dirty floor in the barn, his screams forever captured on audiotape. There are several other property owners now around us, but there's nobody around from that era. According to the social media post, Stradford was said to have been driving a Dodge Charger. In the background is Walter Wesley Ellebracht Sr. in front to the left is Walter Wesley Ellebracht Jr. in the middle is Richard "Race Horse" Haynes and to the left is Joyce Ellebracht. Eric Monroe Hooker. Of the four people alleged to be involved in the murder, Hendricks is the only one not locked up. His mother, Sharon Marino, 66, recalls the men always were barefoot and dirty when they came to town. To clear his conscience, Caldwell gave a 20-page statement to the FBI. They were arrested in south Texas near the U.S./Mexico border about 900 miles south of Mountain Home and have been locked up in the Hidalgo County, Texas jail. The Ellebrachts forced him to write a suicide note and told him: Welcome to your nightmare, newspaper articles about the trial said. The work was hard, but he was used to manual labor. The latest South Texas Crime Stories segment relives the horrifying details of what was known as the Texas slave ranch. See the latest Treasure Valley crime news in ourYouTube playlist: Investigators said the suspicious death appeared to be the result of domestic violence involving an estranged husband. A burned body found in the vehicle was identified as Stradfords by the State Medical Examiners Office. 5-23-1986. The Texas Slave Ranch is the name popularly given to a ranch near Mountain Home, Texas where workers who had been abducted were forced to work without pay making cedar keychains that sold throughout the Texas Hill Country. Brazil attempted to flee but was found hiding in weeds by tracking dogs from the Arkansas Department of Correction. mountain home texas murders (646) 992-8383. According to the information filed in the case, Hendricks had a firearm as well as methamphetamine, heroin, ecstasy and fentanyl with her when arrested. The sessions, which were often tape-recorded, weakened Bates, who died that February on the manure-covered floor of the bunkhouse. Her bond was lowered from $500,000 to $250,000 and she was released from jail Jan. 28. But something strange began happening on their ranch in the late 1970s and into the 1980s. The men involved might have been found guilty, but they barely saw any jail time. Copyright 2021 by KSAT - All rights reserved. At least one man was presumed dead. The land isn't suitable because topsoil is shallow, as the area is laced with karst and rock just under the surface. Texas Hill Country. Ranch is an authentic 19th century ranch that houses exotic animals. On Tuesday, officers were sent to a. Home. Most Texas billionaires did OK in 2022. Authorities are investigating the deaths of three people in Azle Monday as a double murder-suicide, according to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office.

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