KOUNTZE, Texas — Clayton Carter's murder trial is set to begin Tuesday, after he admitted to killing a 64-year-old man and leaving his body in a wooded area back in 2022.
A jury of 12 people were chosen today according to Hardin County District Clerk, Dana Hogg.
The jurors will only serve for the Carters murder charge.
Carter is set to appear in the 356th Judicial Court in front of the Honorable Steve Thomas at 9:00 a.m.
The family of Roy Dean Willman reported him missing on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. Willman had been living in a RV Park located at 2525 North US Highway 69 near Kountze, according to a Hardin County Sheriff’s Office release.
Willman’s family also reported that his truck and camper were missing from the park.
With the help of Silsbee Police, investigators found the truck and camper on Wednesday afternoon. Clayton Carter, 36 of Kountze, was driving them, according to the release.
Silsbee Police took Carter into custody on charges not related to Willman's case, however, investigators determined him to be a person of interest in the case.
During an interview, Carter said he murdered Willman and left his body in a wooded area off Cravens Camp Road, north of Silsbee, according to the release. Carter led investigators to the area where Willman’s body was located.
An autopsy has been ordered. Investigators hope it will provide more details on the cause and manner of Willman’s death.
No motive is known at this time, according to the release. Carter is being held in the Hardin County Jail on bonds totaling more than $2 million.
Carter is facing several charges including murder, tampering with evidence, fraud, theft and other charges that are unrelated Willman's case. The bond for the murder charge was set at $1.5 million.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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From a Hardin County Sheriff's Office release:
MISSING KOUNTZE MAN FOUND MURDERED NEAR SILSBEE
On September 21, 2022, Roy Dean Willman, 64, was reported missing by his family. He had been living in an RV Park, located at 2525 North US Hwy 69 near Kountze. His family reported that his truck and camper trailer was also missing from the Park.
Investigators developed a person of interest in the case and with help from Silsbee Police, the truck and camper were located in Silsbee on Wednesday afternoon, being driven by Clayton Lewis Carter, 36 from Kountze. Carter was taken into custody on unrelated charges by Silsbee Police and later transferred to the Hardin County Jail.
Sheriff Deputies continued to gather evidence and speak with witnesses. During an interview with Investigators, Carter confessed to murdering Willman and leaving his body in a wooded area off Cravens Camp Road, north of Silsbee. He led Investigators to the scene and Willman’s body was located. A pending autopsy scheduled for next week should provide more details on the cause and manner of death. No motive is known at this time.
Carter is facing several charges including drug possession, tampering with evidence, felony theft and murder. He is scheduled for formal arraignment on tomorrow (Saturday) morning.
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