A Texas woman was taken aback when she noticed her son, Richard Ranner Ozment, 36, appearing unusually sweaty outside his recreational vehicle (RV). Her suspicions were aroused, leading her to investigate further. According to the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, she had to forcefully move past her son to discover a human foot near the RV on their property.
Upon further investigation, she found Michaela Brooker, 38, severely injured by what appeared to be a machete-like weapon. When confronted, Ozment claimed that Brooker had attempted to stab him. The mother, in a state of panic, retreated to the house, where Ozment’s father dialed 911.
First responders from the China Spring Fire Department were the first to arrive at the scene, where they noticed a man fleeing the premises. Despite a thorough search of the property by sheriff’s deputies, Ozment was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, Brooker was treated for severe head injuries before being airlifted to a hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds.
Ozment was found 10 hours later, hiding in a stock tank a short distance from the crime scene. He was arrested and is currently being held on murder charges with a $1 million bond. Sheriff Parnell McNamara described the incident as one of the most brutal and senseless attacks he had seen in a long time.
The sheriff referred to the incident as a “domestic disturbance,” but did not provide further details about the relationship between Ozment and Brooker. Ozment’s criminal history is extensive, beginning with a conviction for aggravated sexual assault at the age of 16. He was later arrested for making a terroristic threat and for failing to register as a sex offender after taking photographs outside a local elementary school. Despite being sentenced to 40 years in prison for participating in burglaries, he was released on parole after serving just 10 years.
Sheriff McNamara expressed regret over Ozment’s early release, stating that the murder should never have occurred. Brooker, who leaves behind a young son, is being remembered through a GoFundMe campaign set up for her family, which has already raised over $7,000 of its $10,000 goal.