Accused Grandfalls Murderer Found Dead in Jail

WARD COUNTY -- Accused killer Rodney Crawford is dead.

Big 2 News got a call from a viewer Thursday morning who has a friend in the Ward County Jail.

That friend was 2 cells down from Rodney Crawford and says he heard a lot of commotion coming from Crawford's cell early Thursday morning.

When the guards told the inmates to quiet down, he says he heard a lot of shouting as the inmates then discovered the body of Rodney Crawford.

Texas Rangers tells Big 2 News Rodney Crawford was found dead in his cell at the Ward County Jail about 6 a.m. Thursday. Texas Rangers are labeling this a "questionable death," meaning they are investigating it, as the Ward County Sheriff's Office requested their assistance.

Big 2 News also spoke with Ward County Judge Greg Holly, who's calling Crawford's death a "custodial death," explaining Crawford was found dead while in custody at the Ward County Jail.

The office of Judge Elizabeth B. Polancoe tells Big 2 News Judge Polancoe, the Precinct 2 & 3 Justice of the Peace, was called to the Ward county Jail Thursday morning.

No other details, about how Crawford was found death or how he died are being released.

Texas Rangers will only say an autopsy will be preformed on Crawford's body.

Crawford was facing murder charges for the Grandfalls double murder of Christina Stafford, 31, originally from Monahans, and Travis Dewitt, 30, originally from Illinois.

Crawford allegedly shot the two to dead in a trailer home in the 300 block of East 4th Street in Grandfalls on Sept. 5th around 1:30 a.m.

Then, Crawford allegedly turned the gun on Stafford's 6-year old daughter, who was in the trailer home, shooting and hitting her in the leg, as she ran to the neighbors.

Authorities point to a love triangle as a possible motives for the killings.

The Ward County Sheriff's office says Rodney Crawford used a .45 caliber handgun that belonged to his father -- Ward County Sheriff's deputy Steve Crawford -- in the shootings.