I have also put together the first installment of dictation. So the pages unfold...
We first acquired tracts # 7 & 8 from a gentleman we will call “Benny” in August of 2002. The land was beautiful. It sat right on the Brazos River and was lush and green. The Brazos River is a river of western legend. John Wayne has quoted it in several movies, Lyle Lovett sang about it in songs, and the source of Alamo Beer in Fox’s King of the Hill was based on the Brazos River. “Benny” wanted to get out from under his land there and sold it to R and I for $5000 less than he paid for it. It had constructed on the property 1 electric pole, a septic system, and a travel trailer.
In September of 2003, we purchase tracts #9 & 10 from a family named Stewart. The property sat right next to tracts # 7 & 8 on the Brazos River. The price on the land was a deal we couldn’t refuse. It had constructed on the property 3 electrical poles, a water meter, 5 septic systems, and 2 mobile homes.
In August of 2004, we purchased tract #60 from a family named the Jacks who had just had a baby. It was the first property that was in the “subdivision” off of Brazos Rock Road. Everyone would have to pass our property to get to theirs. On the land was an electric pole, a septic system, a water meter, and a gorgeous three-bedroom house on stilts. The first time the Cross-Timbers Narcotics Task Force had been out to Brazos Rock Road with a search warrant for Roger Salter’s property. They had the address and instead went to the Jacks’ place. They tore apart everything inside the house and out of it looking for something in which they were never going to find there. The Jacks moved out shortly after and we offered to assume the payments on the property for them.
We paid for the first set of tracts in cash. The rumor spread that we had done so and we became an automatic target as being rich and worth a lot of money. The perfect type of person to sue and get a good portion of monies from. However, the idea of us being rich was pretty far-fetched. After buying the first 2 tracts we started meeting and greeting with the neighbors. We were told stories of a feud going on between the Salters, Hulls, Randy Maberry, James Thornton and the Halls. R does his best to not be a part of feuding and even invites Salter into our home for dinner. Randy received funding from Salter, Halls, and others for road maintance. A task that had not been accomplished since Salters moved in 2001. Peace was kept and everyone was friendly for 18-24 months. 2 years went by without any troubles.
During this time period, our truck and various other items were stolen from our property by Robert Grant (situation #1) on 06/07/04. He had lived down the street from us in Hurst, TX and had helped both Roger and R build the chicken coup on the land. Grant in the process of taking our things injured our 18 year old dog Jake. (Those injuries ended up costing Jake his life.) Roger invited us into his home to use the telephone to make a report. A Deputy Clint Caddell responded and made the report (case #2004-06055). The case was then turned over to Tim Ogelsby. Ogelsby was defended by Chief Morgan as having a 2 year (or better) lag time on investigating thefts. This meaning the Statute of Limitations generally runs out before Parker County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) gets around to it. Grant was finally charged with “grand theft auto” and served several years of prison time. It was the only charge filed against him, and it was Tarrant County that filed those charges.
Shortly after on 07/20/04, Matthew Salter is caught stealing DVDs, VHS, beach towel games, broom, John Deere glass set, plates, and silverware, cookie jars, set of tall tea glasses, the knife my father made and the black sheath that it went in (incident #1). However, he left an additional stack of plates next to our sofa which were later used to lift fingerprints from. Officer Dwayne responded to fill out incident report (case # 2004-07840). Dwayne happens to be the nephew of the Stewarts and knows of the problems on Brazos Rock Road. We contact the Salters and decide to meet at the Mineral Wells Outlet Mall to regain the items taken in the burglary. Roger, Theresa, Matthew, and Tiffany are all present. R & I explain that we will have to turn Matthew over to the sheriff if he refuses to return our possessions. Roger tells us that Matthew is allowed to steal from whomever because they are poor. He also states that if we turn Matthew into the sheriff that “the friendship is over” and he “will get you and hurt you bad if you do”. This was the first threat made to us by the Salter family. The property has never been returned to us. The fingerprints lifted off of the plates were turned into evidence. We have no information on whether a match was ever found, as Ogelsby was full of excuses to blame Tarrant County for not running his fingerprints.
I should have the next portion up shortly.
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