Mark Hasse, a 57-year-old Caucasian male, was the Assistant District Attorney for Kaufman County, Texas. On January 31, 2013, he was shot and killed while walking from his car to the courthouse in Kaufman, Texas. The gunman, who was masked and dressed in black, shot Hasse multiple times before fleeing the scene in a waiting car. This brazen attack occurred in broad daylight and sent shockwaves through the community.
The investigation into Hasse's murder was extensive and involved
multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Kaufman Police Department, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Initially, there was speculation that the Aryan Brotherhood, a Neo-Nazi prison gang, might be responsible for the murder due to Hasse's involvement in cases against gangs and white supremacist groups. However, this theory was later disproven.
The case took a significant turn when Eric Lyle Williams, a former lawyer and justice of the peace, was implicated in the murders of Hasse and two other prosecutors, Michael McLelland and his wife Cynthia McLelland. Williams was prosecuted and found guilty of the murders of McLelland and his wife, and he was sentenced to death. Although Williams was also charged with Hasse's murder, the decision was made not to prosecute him further for this crime as he had already received the death penalty for the other murders.
Kimberly Irene "Kim" Williams, Eric Williams' wife, was also implicated in the murders. She pleaded guilty to her role in Hasse's murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Kim Williams admitted to being the getaway driver during the attack on Hasse. Her testimony was crucial in securing the conviction of her husband.
The Kaufman County murders, including the murder of Mark Hasse, garnered national attention and highlighted the dangers faced by prosecutors and law enforcement officials. The case remains a poignant reminder of the risks associated with the pursuit of justice and the impact of such violent acts on the community and the families of the victims.
