HCSO Clears 27-Year-Old Cold Case

“I tested that safety out on his face” – William Weedman, Jr.

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

HOUSTON COUNTY – A suspect has been arrested in a nearly 30-year old cold case after new information came to light concerning the homicide of a man in Houston County during the fall of 1990.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, William Earl Weedman, Jr., a 48-year-old convicted felon – previously residing in the Ft. Bend County Jail – was charged with manslaughter for his actions in the death of Rusty Redman on Sept. 13, 1990.

The probable cause document indicated Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Investigator Jerry Kaelin began working the case in late February of this year after new information surfaced in the Redman investigation.

William Earl Weedman, Jr. had recently been paroled from prison. Shortly after his release, however, he committed another crime and was detained in the Ft. Bend County Jail.

“According to witnesses, Weedman had bragged about the murder of Redman as well as overhearing jail conversations about the real truth involving the death of Rusty,” the legal document stated.

The HCSO investigator reported Weedman believed Redman had information implicating him in a string of crimes in Harris County.

This belief led Weedman to take Redman’s life, the affidavit reported.

“On the date identified in this affidavit, (Sept. 13, 1990) Weedman and Rusty Redman were at the Weedman’s family property in Houston County. Weedman retrieved a Mossberg 12 gauge shotgun from the home and loaded ammunition into the breach. The victim (Redman) was standing on a wooden porch that was attached to a single wide trailer home and Weedman shot him in the head, killing him instantly,” the affidavit stated.

During the course of the investigation into Redman’s homicide, Weedman changed his story several times saying at first Redman had accidentally shot himself. Weedman then claimed he had accidentally shot Redman and then lied because he was scared.

While he was still searching for an alibi and “…unbeknownst to investigators, Weedman was a prime suspect in a homicide that occurred in Harris County, where an elderly man was burglarized, shot in the head and his home was burned to cover evidence,” the affidavit indicated.

Weedman was convicted of this crime but, as mentioned earlier, had recently been paroled. As the new investigation into Redman’s death continued, Kaelin uncovered witnesses close to Weedman who told him “… Weedman said he was going to take Rusty to his property and do away with him.”

After Redman was killed, the affidavit reported Weedman telling people, “I tested that safety out on his face.”

Forensic tests on the shotgun at the time of Redman’s homicide indicated the firearm was in operational condition and no malfunctions were observed.

Given the new evidence, Weedman was served with the arrest warrant in the Ft. Bend County Jail and then transported back to Houston County where he was booked into custody on one count of manslaughter, a second degree felony.

According to Section 12.33 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Weedman is being held at the Houston County Jail on a $200,000 bond.

Will Johnson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].