ABILENE, TX-- Lin Rushing's former son-in-law has officially been charged in her murder on Pinehurst in south Abilene on Aug. 31, as reported by KTXS.
Gary Shane Clinton, 50, was formally charged on Tuesday after his DNA was found on an unspecified object which was rushed to Tarrant County for "rapid processing," according to Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge.
Rushing's throat was allegedly cut by Clinton after police found a knife by her body. Her husband, Larry, found her body less than 30 minutes after talking to her at 4:24 p.m. The two were discussing dinner plans.
"This was a difficult crime scene," said Standridge. "No citizen should ever be found like that."
Abilene Police's forensic team gathered 52 items for processing at the scene, including the unspecified item, according to Standridge. "The item was found on the floor in a room that looked like it had been disturbed. This stood out because the rest of the house was very clean and orderly," Standridge said.
According to a witness statement, Clinton was seen in the neighborhood around the time of the murder.
A convenience store's surveillance tape showed Clinton's car traveling toward Rushing's house on Chimney Rock at 4:19 p.m. and going north on Buffalo Gap at 4:49 p.m.
At 5:13 p.m., police found Clinton barefoot in the yard of a home near Dyess Air Force Base. Clinton "appeared disoriented and mentally disabled," and could not explain why he was at that home according to court documents. He told police he was looking for love and had the power of telepathy.
He was later allowed to leave.
At 4:23 a.m. the day of the murder, Clinton supposedly called the Rushing's house and left a "weird message." While most of the message is inaudible, "don't take this personal" could be heard clearly at the end of the message.
According to Standridge, Clinton has been estranged from the family for the last 10 years. Clinton's ex-wife, the daughter of the Rushings, said he had been involved in drugs and was abusive during their marriage.
Clinton was seen burning clothes outside of his apartment two hours before the murder. Police found "burnt items, broken glass, holes in the walls, and forks and hangers stabbed into the walls," when they went into his apartment. He was arrested on Sept. 4 and charged with criminal mischief for the incident at the apartment.
When asked about the murder, Clinton denied knowing the Rushings.
Clinton has 41 prior arrests, according to arrest records obtained by KTXS.
Clinton's bond was set at $400,000. As a condition of the bond, Clinton cannot have contact with any member of the Rushing family.
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