Flatonia Man Sentenced To 25 Years For Murder Of His Wife in Aug. 2022

District Judge Jeff Steinhauser of the 155th District Court sentenced Daniel Lee Willis Jr. of Flatonia to 25 years in prison for murdering his wife, Elizabeth Massey.

Willis, 44 of Flatonia, was arrested for murder on Aug. 29, 2022. Flatonia Police responded to a welfare concern that day to the couple’s home on North Hackberry St. in Flatonia. Inside, officers discovered Massey, 37, dead from a gunshot wound to her head.

Court records show that the prosecution was prepared to present evidence that Willis was high on the drug PCP, also known as “angel dust,” at the time of the murder. In addition, the prosecution planned to submit statements from Willis to police officers and other witnesses saying that he killed his wife.

Willis waived his right to a jury trial and entered a plea of no contest on July 3. He will serve a sentence of 25 years in prison with credit for 674 days of time served.

Willis was never granted bond after his arrest, and he has been in the Fayette County Jail since that time.

Schulenburg attorney Ken Bigham Jr. represented Willis.