Accused Texas gunman collapses in court
HOUSTON (KABC) -- A man accused of killing four children and their parents at a home in Spring, Texas, collapsed twice in court during his arraignment hearing.
Ron Haskell, 33, slumped to his knees as a prosecutor read an account by the lone survivor of the attack, the slain couple's 15-year-old daughter who suffered a fractured skull when a bullet grazed her head. His attorney, Doug Durham, said he could tell something was wrong.
"He seemed a little out of it, mentally," Durham said.
Durham says his defense likely will be mental illness. He wouldn't go into specifics, but he says Haskell was in and out of hospitals in Utah and was not compliant with taking medication. Durham spent about a half hour with Haskell before court. He described him as despondent but says he never showed any indication of remorse.
Haskell is accused of killing his ex-wife's sister, Katie Stay, and her husband Stephen and the children, ranging in age from 4 to 14, after binding them and putting the family face-down on the floor of their home on Wednesday.
Cassidy Stay, 15, is the only survivor. She played dead and called 911 after Haskell left the house, and it is only because Cassidy told law enforcement he was going after more of her family that deputy constables were able to intercept him. Investigators say he was after his ex and was doing anything he could to get to her.
"We have allegedly an intentional act on the part of this defendant against seven innocent people," Assistant Harris County D.A. Tammy Thomas said.
Prosecutors believe the motive was Haskell's divorce proceedings from Katie's sister. Her sister had moved from Utah to the Houston area along with the children she shared with Haskell. Records show he's been accused of domestic violence before.
In 2008, Haskell was jailed on charges of assault and domestic violence in Logan, Utah. Those charges were ultimately dismissed as part of a plea deal. Haskell has also been served with a protective order from his ex-wife, which was dismissed after they filed for divorce, according to court records.
After Haskell collapsed during the hearing, Thomas said, "Maybe reality is finally setting in and he is facing his consequences."
Meanwhile, Cassidy is now out of the ICU and in stable condition. She is expected to make a full recovery, according to a Facebook post made by her aunt on the family's memorial page. Her aunt says the teen is responding, understands what happened and that she is the only survivor. For her privacy, her release date from the hospital will not be made public.
A memorial fund has been set up for the family. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/bbh9go.
The Associated Press and KTRK-TV contributed to this report.
