Capital murder trial ends in hung jury, will be retried
Waco, Tx ( FOX 44 ) – The 19th District Court trial of one of three people arrested in connection with the death of a man whose body was found dumped in a ravine has ended in a hung jury and will be retried at a future date.
Brandon Xavier Stephens had been accused in the death of 59-year-old Stanley Wilcox, who disappeared in December 2022, and whose body was later found dumped near South 9th Street and the I-35 northbound access road.
McLennan County District Attorney Josh Tetens said the trial which began Monday went to the jury Wednesday afternoon, with the jury later reporting they were deadlocked 11-1. Eleven jurors voted to convict Stephens of Capital Murder, but the 12th opted for a lesser murder charge. They were told to resume deliberating, but remained deadlocked.
Stephens will remain in custody pending the new trial.
Waco police received a missing persons report for Wilcox December 29, 2022. The next day a homeless woman found his cell phone and turned it in at a convenience store.
When Wilcox was first reported missing, he was labeled as endangered because he left behind his diabetes medication. He was last seen walking in the 700 block of LaSalle.
Police had obtained a search warrant for his vehicle. It was located at his home in the 800 block of Garrett Ave.
Detectives also discovered that Wilcox had not visited his gym for ten days, which they were told was highly unusual for him even in the middle of the holiday season.
Officers spoke with the three people, including Stephens, who shared the home with him on Garrett Avenue.
According to an arrest affidavit, investigators were told that Wilcox left the home without his car around Christmas Eve. One of the people living with Wilcox reportedly allowed investigators in the home, and they noticed that Wilcox's ID and debit card were in the living room.
Investigators also noticed a car spare tire left next to the front porch of the home. According to the affidavit, Investigators also found tools, a knife, cleaning products and Wilcox`s personal papers outside the vehicle.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for the car, and said they discovered indications that someone tried to clean up a large amount of blood in the trunk area.
That same affidavit stated that Stephens and another man were interviewed and statements were given that indicated there had been a shooting during a confrontation with Wilcox and that it was decided to "put him out of his misery."
