Autopsy: Accused Grandfalls Double Murderer Died From Jail Cell Hanging
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: October 10, 2012
MONAHANS -- An accused Ward County double murderer found dead in his jail cell died from hanging.
Texas Rangers tell Big 2 that an autopsy shows that Rodney Wayne Crawford died from asphyxiation by hanging on October 4th at the Ward County Jail.
However, Rangers would not say whether Crawford, 28, took his own life or not.
Ward County Sheriff Mikel Strickland says that Rodney Crawford murdered Christina Stafford, 31, and Travis DeWitt, 30, in an R.V. Park in the 300 block of East 4th Street in Grandfalls around 1:30 AM on September 5th.
Crawford also reportedly shot at Stafford's 6-year-old daughter -- hitting the girl in the leg as she ran away.
Authorities say Crawford, Stafford and DeWitt might have been involved in a love triangle before the shooting.
Crawford -- the son of Ward County Sheriff's deputy Steve Crawford -- also reportedly used his father's Ward County Sheriff's Office-issued gun in the killings.
Crawford ended up at Medical Center Hospital with blunt force trauma to the head after the shooting.
Crawford was later arrested and charged with 2 counts of murder and 1 count of attempted murder.
Texas Rangers tell Big 2 that an autopsy shows that Rodney Wayne Crawford died from asphyxiation by hanging on October 4th at the Ward County Jail.
However, Rangers would not say whether Crawford, 28, took his own life or not.
Ward County Sheriff Mikel Strickland says that Rodney Crawford murdered Christina Stafford, 31, and Travis DeWitt, 30, in an R.V. Park in the 300 block of East 4th Street in Grandfalls around 1:30 AM on September 5th.
Crawford also reportedly shot at Stafford's 6-year-old daughter -- hitting the girl in the leg as she ran away.
Authorities say Crawford, Stafford and DeWitt might have been involved in a love triangle before the shooting.
Crawford -- the son of Ward County Sheriff's deputy Steve Crawford -- also reportedly used his father's Ward County Sheriff's Office-issued gun in the killings.
Crawford ended up at Medical Center Hospital with blunt force trauma to the head after the shooting.
Crawford was later arrested and charged with 2 counts of murder and 1 count of attempted murder.
