TX TX - Diane Hopson, 62, Mabank, 18 Nov 2007 - *J. Burris guilty*

hoppyfrog

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http://www.ketknbc.com/home/ticker/11983171.html

11-30-07

Van Zandt county Sheriff's Department have made an arrest in connection to a missing woman.

Johnson W. Burris of Mabank has been charged with the murder of Diane Hopson.

The Sheriff's office tells us evidence at Ms. Hopson's home and the the fact Hopson has been gone so long makes it unlikey she'll be found alive.

The bond for Burris has been set at one million dollars.

Police are still looking for Hopson.

If you have any information your asked to contact the Van Zandt Sheriff's office.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/myfox/pages...n=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

11-30-07

Sheriff’s deputies in Van Zandt County fear a missing woman may be the victim of foul play.

Diane Hopson, 62, has been missing from her home near Mabank in Johnson County since Nov. 18.

The woman’s daughter called police after going to her mother’s home and seeing evidence of a struggle. Blood was reportedly found at the scene.

Investigators ruled out robbery because Hopkin’s cell phone, car, house keys and purse were all left at the house.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s office.

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Not sure how this came out, couldn't find anything later that this article. It doesn't look like her body was found?

Murder Suspect Freed On Bond
Van Zandt Newspapers
Murder suspect Johnson Walter Burris, 43, Mabank, who was recently indicted by a Van Zandt County Grand Jury for the murder of Diane Hopson, 62, Mabank, has been released from the Van Zandt County Jail on a $25,000 bond.
Hopson has been missing from her residence on VZCR 2815 since November 18 and blood evidence connected Burris to Hopson in the disappearance. Hopson’s body has never been found.
 
Large number of skeletal remains found in Henderson County

A large number of skeletal remains have been found in Henderson County, according to authorities there.

Henderson County Sheriff's Deputies were called out to the 10,000 block of CR 2448, Flagg Lake Road, just west of Tool last Thursday, after a woman discovered what she believed to be human remains on the side of the road.

Deputies confirmed the woman indeed found a human skull.

On Friday, authorities returned to the location to conduct a more extensive search of a wooded area near where the remains were located.

Several of those skeletons have been tentatively identified as human.

Justice of the Peace Dale Blaylock ordered the remains to be sent to the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas, and then onto the University of North Texas Anthropology lab in Denton.

Right now, authorities aren't sure how the bones got there, whether they were dumped or perhaps moved into the area by rain run-off.

The Henderson County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

http://www.kltv.com/story/18694897/large-number-of-skeletal-remains-found-in-henderson-county

Not sure this is Diane, but this very close to Mabank
 
Johnson Walter Burris v. the State of Texas
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS TWELFTH COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT TYLER, TEXAS
August 30, 2012
http://tx.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20120830_0006767.TX.htm/qx
BACKGROUND
Diane Hopson's adult daughter visited her the morning of November 18, 2007. Diane told her that she was going to spend the day mowing the pasture at her house and that Appellant, an acquaintance of hers who lived nearby, was going to come over to work on her riding lawnmower. Diane was to baby-sit her daughter's children that evening, but she did not arrive at her daughter's house. The next day, Diane's daughter went to her mother's house to try to find her. She did not find her, but both of her mother's vehicles were present at the house, as was her purse and other personal items. The house was in an undisturbed condition.
Not finding her mother, Diane's daughter called the sheriff's office to report her missing. A deputy came to the residence. He was unable to find Diane, but he did discover a large quantity of blood on the back porch. That blood was later determined to be Diane's. Her blood was also found on the tailgate and in the cab of Appellant's truck. Drops of Appellant's blood were found inside her house.
A Van Zandt County grand jury indicted Appellant for the felony offense of murder. Appellant pleaded not guilty, and a trial was held. The jury found Appellant guilty. Appellant elected to have the trial court assess punishment. Following a sentencing hearing, the trial court assessed a sentence of imprisonment for life. This appeal followed.

Lots more at link.
His appeal was denied.
 

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