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A Texas man has been charged with capital murder after allegedly going on a shooting spree in his neighborhood that left three people dead, including his ex-girlfriend, before being found hiding in the woods with a swastika drawn on his head.
Two more people were also wounded in the bloody 11am rampage at three houses in a rural subdivision just outside Dayton, about 50 miles northeast of Houston.
Michael Wettstein, 60, a resident of the cul de sac where the killings unfolded, was arrested after he was found hiding in a nearby wooded area, Liberty County Sheriff’s Capt. Ken DeFoor said.
He was discovered with a swastika drawn on his forehead and in possession of the shotgun and rifle used in the attacks, according to law enforcement.
According to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Wettstein first headed to the home of a woman who was identified by relatives speaking to KPRC as his ex-girlfriend, 38-year-old Misty Herndon, at 11am.
The couple had recently broken up.
There, he allegedly shot her dog, before killing Herndon and her father, identified as 56-year-old Richard Lamm.
Wettstein’s next stop was the home of Bruce Mercer, 59, also located on County Road 4901. Officials said he fatally shot the man for an unknown reason.
The 60-year-old suspect then went to the home of neighbor Marvin Rumley, 66, and his 32-year-old daughter Amanda, and got into an argument over their dog. In the course of the verbal dispute, Wettstein allegedly opened fire, shooting the man in the back of the head and his daughter in the throat.
The Rumleys both survived and were airlifted to a hospital in Houston. Their condition is unknown at this time.
By the time police responded to the scene, Wettstein had escaped. He was later found hiding in a nearby wooded area and surrendered to the officers without incident.
Neighbors reported that Wettstein was known for going around the subdivision and ‘ranting’ about unleashed dogs in the area, according to KFDM.
The sheriff’s office has confirmed that Wettstein had previously called deputies for various complaints.
Jail records indicate that Wettstein was arrested on an assault charge in April 2019.
