Mother finds son sweating profusely before discovering victim’s body in family van.
A Texas mother’s chilling discovery of a severely injured woman near her family’s van has led to the arrest of her son, Richard Ranner Ozment, 36, who is now facing murder charges. Ozment is accused of attacking and killing 38-year-old Michaela Brooker with a machete-like weapon following what authorities believe was a domestic disturbance.
The violent incident took place on the morning of Saturday, September 21, when deputies from the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a residence on Old China Spring Road, local news station KWTX reported.
A mother’s shocking discovery
The sheriff’s affidavit revealed the harrowing details of that morning. Ozment’s mother told authorities that she had stepped outside and found her son drenched in sweat. As she attempted to move past him, she stumbled upon the body of Ms. Brooker, who had suffered life-threatening injuries.
In a tense moment, Ozment reportedly blocked his mother’s path, insisting that Ms. Brooker had “tried to stab [him].” Terrified, the mother ran back inside the house as Ozment’s father made a desperate call to 911.
First responders, including firefighters from China Spring, arrived on the scene shortly after. Though Ozment fled, authorities located him 10 hours later hiding in a nearby stock tank.
Emergency responders’ efforts and tragic outcome
Emergency crews immediately treated Ms. Brooker for severe injuries, with significant trauma to her head. She was quickly airlifted to a hospital for further care but tragically succumbed to her wounds shortly after.
Ozment was arrested and now faces charges of murder. His bond has been set at $1 million.
A history of violence
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara expressed outrage over the brutal nature of the crime, stating, “This is one of the most horrific, brutal, and senseless attacks we’ve seen in a long time.”
Ozment has a long criminal history dating back to his teenage years. At the age of 16, he was convicted of aggravated sexual assault and, over the years, racked up additional charges, including terroristic threats, burglary, and failure to register as a sex offender. Despite being sentenced to 40 years in prison, Ozment was paroled after serving just 10 years.
Sheriff McNamara voiced frustration over Ozment’s early release, stating, “This never should have happened. He never should have gotten out, but he did.”
A loss for a family
Michaela Brooker leaves behind a young son, now facing a future without his mother due to this shocking act of violence. The community mourns her loss, as authorities continue their investigation into the tragic event.