GUILTY TX - Pauletta Burleson, 56, murdered at her Harris County home, 18 May 2010

[indicajane]

I searched for a thread on this interesting case, but didn't see anything. I've never started a thread before, so if I'm doing anything wrong, please let me know!

I read an interesting case today, that I can't believe I missed. Apparently in May a church burnt down in Houston. Six days later, the pastor's wife was shot in the driveway of her home.

Link to the fire/murder (before arrests)
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7451400

and now, they have reported that the husband and her stepson were involved with the same woman, who is under arrest for tossing the murder weapon. Apparently, the husband had torched the church for insurance money and the wife was going to turn him in. The husband appears to be a real winner who had multiple affairs, even though her was the pastor.

I did notice in the interviews I watched, that people were NOT surprised the pastor was involved, but WERE surprised about the son.

I did a google search on the mom's name, after seeing a note in one of the comments regarding a child abuse issue from a few years back, and while the name of the children involved were not mentioned...it appears Paulette was in trouble for child abuse a few years back. I am no expert sleuth, just a rank beginner, but I wonder if this will be used in his defense?

Here are some links if anyone is interested. Just seemed like a fascinating/multi-faceted murder case.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7484601

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/100608-pastor-arrested-in-connection-murder


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7044190.html

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=106344&catid=288

http://www.truecrimereport.com/2010/06/rev_tb_burleson_hired_his_son.php

 

[Filly]

You did an excellent job for your first post, indicajane.

I like how Nobles said they had internal problems in the Church but always came together on Sundays. Oh well that's good.:doh:

 

[cluciano63]

Not the first pastor to kill his wife...geez. Isn't there a commandmant about that or something? Not to mention adultery? I am getting so cynical, nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[indicajane]

TY Filly.

I found a link to an article regarding the past allegations (i don't know if there was any convictions) of the victim's child abuse past.

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/06/reverend.php

One of the articles I read referred to the young man (the shooter) as Paulette's son, but others called him her stepson. I'm still unclear of the relationships. I would be really interested to find out what/if any connection that young man is to that abuse..if he was a past victim or a witness?

That certainly would not make it right, but perhaps some deep seeded resentment helped break down any morality walls...of course, that could have been cash too. No one deserves to be shot like a dog in their own driveway. I am thinking though that a defense attorney would be all over that.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

Not the first pastor to kill his wife...geez. Isn't there a commandmant about that or something? Not to mention adultery? I am getting so cynical, nothing surprises me anymore.

The only thing you didn't add is The family who prays together.....slays together? Nice, daddy and son were messing with the same woman. Cozy.

It's ministers like this who give the vocation a bad rap. We've heard of many ghastly offenses happening on church grounds and elsewhere involving pastors, ministers, priests, etc. Makes one think the safest place to pray is at home, locked away from the world (not on the driveway, of course).

This doesn't surprise me, but it sure makes me :furious:

:croc:

Thanks for the links. Nice family.

 

[joe jones]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/...trial_n_983586.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003

trial begins

 

[joe jones]

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...in-murder-for-hire-case-2190179.php#loopBegin

from trial

 

[Angels_Not_Forgotten]

Holy crap! THose are some serious serious charges against her...I agree that no one deserves to be shot in cold blood but it would make more sense, as indicajane said above, if this was one of the sons she smacked in the head with a shovel and yelled and cursed at.

 

[joe jones]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8371204

from trial

 

[UdbCrzy2]

Outburst nearly derails murder trial

As a Harris County bailiff dragged a 21-year-old killer-for-hire out of court in a chokehold Wednesday, it was the first time he finally was quiet.

For hours before the outburst that got William Fuller pulled off the witness stand, no one seemed to know what may come out of his mouth.

"I see you huffing and puffing back there," he shouted to a man sitting in the back of the courtroom. "Just because you don't want to hear what I'm saying. You wanna fight?"

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Outburst-nearly-derails-murder-trial-2204891.php

 

[joe jones]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/29399651/detail.html

a very emotive trial, judge declares mistrial, then reverses himself after defence withdraw request for mistrial

 

[MorenoI]

Wow father and son look so much alike...just a weird story all around.

 

[UdbCrzy2]

Shouting continues from accused killer on witness stand

The screaming and shouting continued Thursday at impressive decibel levels as defense attorney Anthony Osso grilled admitted killer 21-year-old William Fuller in the capital murder trial of his father's mistress.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...es-from-accused-killer-on-witness-2205865.php

 

[joe jones]

his father has already been convicted for the murder

 

[joe jones]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8382565

things calmer Friday

 

[joe jones]

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Woman-in-love-triangle-killing-testifies-2212766.php

defendant testifies

 

[joe jones]

http://www.click2houston.com/news/29473172/detail.html

found guilty

 

[OkieGranny]

From November 2011:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-t...e-triangle-murder-sentenced-to-20-2264696.php

Through two trials full of tears, anguish and more shouting than Houston courtrooms generally see in a year, the killer was unwavering - he had killed Pauletta Burleson.

He had done it because he was cajoled, beaten and finally bribed by his father, Houston pastor Tracy Burleson. He had done it because Burleson and his mistress, Tyonne Palmer, wanted him to do it. He had done it, he said, because his stepmother had abused him for years and he hated her...

Fuller was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for murder... by state District Judge Susan Brown, who presided over the trials of Tracy Burleson, 46, who was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and Palmer, 32, who was sentenced to seven years in prison.