Joy
01-30-2003, 11:59 AM
Supervisor killed by inmate in Amarillo
By Mark Passwaters/Staff Writer
A Texas Department of Criminal Justice supervisor was murdered Wednesday morning by an inmate at an Amarillo prison.
Stanley Wiley, 38, was an eight-year TDCJ veteran and a supervisor in the Clements Unit's
boot factory. He was on duty at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning when he was attacked by 26-year-old Travis Trevino Runnels, who working as a janitor at the factory. Runnels attacked Wiley with what was believed to be a knife and slit his throat. Wiley was pronounced dead at Amarillo Hospital at 11 a.m.
TDCJ spokesman Larry Fitzgerald said an investigation into the attack was already underway.
"We've got an ongoing investigation with the Office of the Inspector General at this point. We expect to have murder charges filed," he said.
TDCJ officials said it was likely Runnels, who had only been working in the boot factory for a few weeks, was able to obtain the murder weapon shortly before attacking Wiley.
"In a boot factory, there are tools for cutting leather, including knives," Fitzgerald said.
If the Office of the Inspector General concludes that murder charges are appropriate and the Randall County District Attorney's Office decides to prosecute, Runnels -- who was serving 70 years for two counts of burglary of a habitation and aggravated robbery in Dallas County -- will be facing the death penalty.
"Any time a correctional officer or peace officer is killed in Texas, it is an automatic capital offense," Fitzgerald said.
Wiley is the first correctional officer or supervisor killed in the line of duty since 1999, when Daniel Nagle, a correctional officer at the McConnell Unit in Beeville, was attacked and murdered by inmate Robert Pruitt. Pruitt was convicted of capital murder and is now on death row in Livingston.
Wiley is the 24th correctional officer killed in the line of duty since 1926.
By Mark Passwaters/Staff Writer
A Texas Department of Criminal Justice supervisor was murdered Wednesday morning by an inmate at an Amarillo prison.
Stanley Wiley, 38, was an eight-year TDCJ veteran and a supervisor in the Clements Unit's
boot factory. He was on duty at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning when he was attacked by 26-year-old Travis Trevino Runnels, who working as a janitor at the factory. Runnels attacked Wiley with what was believed to be a knife and slit his throat. Wiley was pronounced dead at Amarillo Hospital at 11 a.m.
TDCJ spokesman Larry Fitzgerald said an investigation into the attack was already underway.
"We've got an ongoing investigation with the Office of the Inspector General at this point. We expect to have murder charges filed," he said.
TDCJ officials said it was likely Runnels, who had only been working in the boot factory for a few weeks, was able to obtain the murder weapon shortly before attacking Wiley.
"In a boot factory, there are tools for cutting leather, including knives," Fitzgerald said.
If the Office of the Inspector General concludes that murder charges are appropriate and the Randall County District Attorney's Office decides to prosecute, Runnels -- who was serving 70 years for two counts of burglary of a habitation and aggravated robbery in Dallas County -- will be facing the death penalty.
"Any time a correctional officer or peace officer is killed in Texas, it is an automatic capital offense," Fitzgerald said.
Wiley is the first correctional officer or supervisor killed in the line of duty since 1999, when Daniel Nagle, a correctional officer at the McConnell Unit in Beeville, was attacked and murdered by inmate Robert Pruitt. Pruitt was convicted of capital murder and is now on death row in Livingston.
Wiley is the 24th correctional officer killed in the line of duty since 1926.