Palo Pinto County in Texas hasn’t had a murder investigation since December 2024. That is, until 32-year-old Leah Adams was found on the 27th of August. Now, details found by the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers have led to the arrest and indictment of 50-year-old Michael Wayne Hatcher. A resident of Mineral Wells, he is currently being held in the Palo Pinto County Jail without bond and is charged with capital murder.
According to WFAA, Adams was discovered in the Brazos River near Oaks Crossing early in the morning. When investigators arrived at the scene, they discovered Adams lying face up in the water with a blanket placed beside her. In the initial search, her white Dodge Ram 1500 pickup was found nearby, fully engulfed in flames.