Attorney General's Office Focused on Case for More Than a Decade
The KFC investigation had been a focus of the Texas Attorney General’s Office for more than a dozen years.
State investigators joined the case in 1995. Shane Phelps, chief of the Prosecutor’s Assistance/Special Investigations Division, was placed in charge.
Shortly after that, a spokesman for then-AG Dan Morales announced the office would present evidence for criminal indictments.
On May 10, 1995, Morales in a news conference in Henderson said he hoped “justice will prevail,” and that he believed "some degree of closure" may be obtained. He recognized how agonizing the past decade had been for family members of the victims and the community. Morales declined to comment on evidence.
In 2002, the Rusk County District Attorney’s Office announced it had deferred prosecution to the Texas AG’s Office.
"Our attorneys did meet with the district attorney," AG spokesman Tom Kelley said at the time. "The DA requested, in no uncertain terms, that the AG’s office handle the cases and serve as lead prosecutors."
When Greg Abbott defeated Dan Morales for the AG’s office, he assumed responsibility for the case.
Surrounded by the family members of the victims, Abbott in November 2005 announced capital murder indictments against two Tyler cousins in the murders.
"Today a Rusk County grand jury handed up five indictments of capital murder against Tyler natives Darnell Hartsfield and Romeo Pinkerton in the execution-style slaying of five victims who were kidnapped from a Kilgore Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in 1983," Abbott said in a hastily called press conference at the Rusk County Courthouse entrance.
By this time, Lisa Tanner, Texas AG’s Office assistant prosecutor, had taken over the investigation and prosecution. Ms. Tanner was leading the prosecution of Pinkerton when Pinkerton pleaded guilty to murder in the case.
State investigators joined the case in 1995. Shane Phelps, chief of the Prosecutor’s Assistance/Special Investigations Division, was placed in charge.
Shortly after that, a spokesman for then-AG Dan Morales announced the office would present evidence for criminal indictments.
On May 10, 1995, Morales in a news conference in Henderson said he hoped “justice will prevail,” and that he believed "some degree of closure" may be obtained. He recognized how agonizing the past decade had been for family members of the victims and the community. Morales declined to comment on evidence.
In 2002, the Rusk County District Attorney’s Office announced it had deferred prosecution to the Texas AG’s Office.
"Our attorneys did meet with the district attorney," AG spokesman Tom Kelley said at the time. "The DA requested, in no uncertain terms, that the AG’s office handle the cases and serve as lead prosecutors."
When Greg Abbott defeated Dan Morales for the AG’s office, he assumed responsibility for the case.
Surrounded by the family members of the victims, Abbott in November 2005 announced capital murder indictments against two Tyler cousins in the murders.
"Today a Rusk County grand jury handed up five indictments of capital murder against Tyler natives Darnell Hartsfield and Romeo Pinkerton in the execution-style slaying of five victims who were kidnapped from a Kilgore Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in 1983," Abbott said in a hastily called press conference at the Rusk County Courthouse entrance.
By this time, Lisa Tanner, Texas AG’s Office assistant prosecutor, had taken over the investigation and prosecution. Ms. Tanner was leading the prosecution of Pinkerton when Pinkerton pleaded guilty to murder in the case.
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