Ronald Lee Haskell

Case overview

Ronald Lee Haskell was charged with six counts of capital murder in relation to a mass shooting at a home in Spring, Texas. The suspected shooter was identified as 33-year-old Ronald Lee Haskell. He was related to the victims by a former marriage.

Timeline

• July 8, 2013 — A protective order was filed by Melannie Lyon.
• July 9, 2014 — A mass shooting occurred at a home located at 711 Leaflet Lane in Spring, Texas.
• July 10, 2014 — Ronald Lee Haskell was charged with six counts of capital murder.
• July 11, 2014 — Haskell made his first court appearance; he later collapsed in court.
• July 11, 2014 — Cassidy Stay was released from Memorial Hermann Hospital.
• July 12, 2014 — Publication of material describing events around the case.
• October 2013 — The protective order filed by Lyon was dismissed when the Haskells agreed to a mutual restraining order in divorce and custody arrangements.
• November 2013 — Haskell was described as living in Logan, Utah until this time.
• February 14, 2014 — Melannie Lyon divorced Haskell.
• March 15, 2002 — Haskell married Melannie Kaye Lyon.
• January 2004 — Haskell stopped working for FedEx as described.

Background

The shooting occurred in a home in the town of Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston. The suspected shooter was later identified as Ronald Lee Haskell, aged 33.

Ronald Lee Haskell was raised in Escondido, California, and lived in Eagle River, an Anchorage community, until 2004. In Alaska, he attended Chugiak High School and graduated in 1999. He had been voted as the class clown and king for prom and homecoming.

He worked as a parcel delivery driver for an independent service with a contract with FedEx, but he stopped working for the company since January, according to a spokesperson.

Ronald Lee Haskell married Melannie Kaye Lyon on March 15, 2002, in Orange County, California. He moved to Logan, Utah, where he lived from July 2006 to November 2013, mostly with his then-wife. Melannie Lyon later divorced him on February 14, 2014, and moved to Houston with help from her sister, Katie Stay, who was one of the victims.

Haskell had previously faced domestic assault charges and had a protective order put against him by his wife before they divorced. In June 2008, he was charged with suspicion of domestic violence, simple assault, and committing an act of violence in front of children, after reportedly dragging his wife out of bed by the hair and hitting her on the side of her head. Haskell said he had only pushed his wife. He later pleaded guilty to the simple assault charge and entered a plea of not guilty to the domestic violence charge; the domestic violence charge was dismissed after a plea deal was reached.

On July 8, 2013, a protective order was filed by Melannie Lyon and served the following day. Melannie Lyon filed for divorce in August. The protective order was later dismissed in October 2013 when the Haskells agreed to a mutual restraining order in the divorce and custody arrangements involving their four children, with Melannie Lyon gaining primary custody.

He had been living with his parents in San Marcos, California, since the divorce; police later stated that Haskell was found holding a California driver’s license.

On July 2, 2014, over a week prior to the shooting, Haskell’s mother, Karla Jeanne Haskell, told San Marcos police that she wanted a restraining order against her son after a ferocious argument in which he reportedly forced her into the garage, tied her wrists with duct tape, taped her to a computer chair for almost four hours, and threatened to kill her and his entire family. The incident was allegedly sparked when Karla Haskell told him that she was in contact with his ex-wife. Deputies investigating the incident searched for Haskell at known hangouts but were unable to find him. They would later learn that Haskell had been arrested in Texas for the shooting.

Steven Kippen, bishop of the Yorkshire Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Logan, said: "He was apparently a different person at home," and added: "But not always. And it's still crazy to see something of this magnitude come out of it."

Jolyn Young said: "I didn't realize how unstable he was," and: "He really had us fooled."

Young told the Logan Herald Journal that Melannie believed the abuse would subside in time and said: "I didn’t realize how unstable he was," and: "He really had us fooled."

Kippen also counseled Melannie and declined to provide details out of concern for the family’s privacy.

The Times Dispatch article referred to a quote from Haskell in the high school yearbook: "Why did they pick me to be class clown? I think it's because I'm so darn good looking."

In an NBC News account, Melannie’s divorce lawyer was described as A. Daniel Barker. Barker said: "Ron came across with a good demeanor." He added: "He spoke well and didn't raise his voice. He had that personality where you wouldn't expect something like this to happen. But you also had a feeling there might be something behind that exterior. There was something going on inside him." Barker also said: "I was more fearful for her safety than with any other client I've had." He added: "Had she still lived in (Utah) I would have been more concerned. But he was moving to California, where he would have the support of his family. She was moving to Texas. The problem was that this was someone who was intent on something. You can't plan for crazy."

In the same account, Haskell’s court-appointed attorney Doug Durham was quoted: “Obviously the evidence is very compelling that he was responsible for the deaths of these children and his ex-wife's sister and her husband,” and “It's a terrible tragedy. The question is: Is he legally responsible from a criminal standpoint?”

Durham also said: “The focus of my defense with Mr. Haskell is his mental condition. Our laws say a person suffering from mental illness is not criminally responsible.”

The offence

On July 9, 2014, a mass shooting occurred in a home located at 711 Leaflet Lane in Spring, Texas, leaving six family members dead, four of them children, and a lone survivor.

Police and court documents stated that Haskell arrived at 711 Leaflet Lane dressed as a FedEx employee. He was reportedly searching for his ex-wife, the sister of the mother living in the home.

The door was answered by the mother’s 15-year-old daughter, who initially did not recognize him. Haskell asked for her parents and she told him they were not home. Haskell left and returned a short time later, telling the girl he was her ex-uncle.

When she tried to close the door, Haskell forced his way inside, tied her up, and made her lie face-down. Haskell then did the same to the other four children and their parents when they returned to the house.

Haskell then reportedly shot all seven people in the back of the head "execution-style" when they would not tell him where his ex-wife was.

Five of the victims died at the scene. One child died shortly after arriving at a hospital.

The lone survivor, the 15-year-old girl, was able to identify the suspect to responding police. She said the gunman was planning on going after other family members. She survived being shot by raising her hand, deflecting the bullet enough to graze her head, suffering a skull fracture and an amputated finger, and then "played dead".

Using the girl’s information, police confronted the suspect at a second home. A chase ensued for twenty minutes involving about two dozen patrol cars and eventually ended at a cul-de-sac about three miles from the scene of the shooting shortly before 7:00 p.m.

Police disabled the suspect’s car with a spike strip, cornered him at the cul-de-sac, and blocked his car with two armored vehicles. Nearby homes were evacuated during the standoff. After around three hours passed, the suspect surrendered without incident.

Haskell held a pistol to his head and spoke to police via cellphone. Around 10 p.m., Haskell got out of his car, fell to his knees and surrendered.

Victims and survivors

Victims

The victims included:

• Stephen Robert Stay, 39
• Katie Stay, 33
• Bryan, 13
• Emily, 9
• Rebecca, 7
• Zachary, 4

Survivor

Cassidy Stay, 15, was the sole survivor. She was able to identify the suspect, call police, and inform them that Haskell was planning to attack her grandparents next. She remained in critical condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Cassidy Stay later survived being shot, had a skull fracture, and had an amputated finger. She was described as being released from the hospital on July 11 and expected to survive. The hospital described her discharge as being earlier that afternoon in good condition and expected to make a full recovery, and it stated: "As a hospital team, we were honored to be able to help care for this brave young woman at her critical time of need. The entire staff at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital has been profoundly touched by Cassidy's resilient spirit, inner strength, and hopeful heart during this time of indescribable shock and grief,' the hospital said. 'We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to her, and her extended family, as they begin the difficult healing process.'"

Cassidy Stay’s survival and her participation in Haskell’s apprehension were described as earning her praise from the public. An online fundraiser campaign raised for her received more than 16,000 participants and over $394,000 in donations. Another account described a fund reaching almost $150,000 with a new goal of $200,000.

Former Navy officer Jody Dellinger, a District Manager at Harris County Parks and Recreation, set up the fund with first responder Sergeant George Beck, the officer who found the massacre scene in Spring. Jody wrote: "We just broke $106,000 this morning at 0840, only about 20 hours after the site was created. This incredible outpouring has already brought this ole, rough, retired Navy Chief to tears! I cannot express how proud and excited I am to be a part of such an awesome show of love that this site has become!’"

Investigation and arrest

Police confronted Haskell at a second home after Cassidy Stay identified him. A chase took place for twenty minutes, involving about two dozen patrol cars, ending at a cul-de-sac about three miles from the scene shortly before 7:00 p.m.

Police managed to disable Haskell’s car with a spike strip, corner him at the cul-de-sac, and block his car with two armored vehicles. After around three hours passed, Haskell surrendered without incident.

Haskell was arrested after the standoff.

Court and police materials described Haskell as the sole suspect in the shooting.

Trial and court proceedings

On the morning of July 10, 2014, Harris County Sheriff’s Office charged Haskell with six counts of capital murder.

He was held without bond. He made his first court appearance on July 11. When charges were read, Haskell began shaking and later collapsed for reasons described as still unclear. Deputies lifted him to his feet; he stood briefly, then collapsed again. He was carried out of the courtroom in a wheelchair.

A prosecutor statement included: Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson would decide soon what punishment he would pursue. It was stated that the death penalty had not been ruled out.

Haskell’s defense attorney Doug Durham indicated that he would review whether Haskell would plead not guilty by reason of insanity. Durham said: “The focus of my defense with Mr.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeals information was provided.

Outcome

Haskell remained charged with six counts of capital murder and was held without bond as of 2014. The case involved a mass shooting at 711 Leaflet Lane in Spring, Texas, and resulted in six deaths and one survivor, Cassidy Stay.

Other details

Haskell was described as disguised as a FedEx delivery worker when he went to the suburban Houston home of his ex-wife’s sister, Katie Stay.

In an NBC News account, it was stated that police believed the slayings were caught in a domestic dispute between Haskell and his ex-wife, though investigators did not say what triggered the slayings.

In a DailyMail account, Al Barker told MailOnline that Melanie felt she had paid the ultimate price for freedom. Barker said: 'But I felt terrible because it is not her fault'.

In the same DailyMail account, it was stated that Cassidy Stay was released from hospital that day, and that a bullet grazed her head and she played dead until Haskell left.

The DailyMail account also stated that Haskell pleaded guilty to simple assault in a domestic violence-related incident in 2008. It also included a quote attributed to Logan police: “Melanie Haskell stated her husband Ronald had (dragged) her by her hair and struck her in the head, and then did it again in front of the children,”

In the DailyMail account, it was stated that Melanie’s divorce was finalized on February 14 and part of the divorce decree required Haskell to obtain a psychological evaluation and provide documentation that he was emotionally and mentally stable enough to care for his children without supervision, and that a judge granted joint custody with Haskell’s wife getting primary custody.

The DailyMail account said: 'Neither protective order violations were prosecuted,' police said in a statement.

Karla Haskell reported to police that her son “told me he was going to kill me, my family and any officer who stops him.”

In one narrative, it was stated that Karla Haskell told police that her son stole her husband’s guns during a previous domestic violence incident, and that the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department confiscated those firearms.

An additional narrative said: Haskell never received proper mental health treatment, his lawyer said. It also said that there was a time last year when Haskell was going through his divorce and his brother became worried, asked authorities for a welfare check, and that the brother spoke with Haskell and called back police asking them not to investigate.

The Times Dispatch account included that Haskell was named homecoming king in the class of about 400 and was a lineman on the football team. It also stated he participated in Boy Scouts and the Mormon church.

In one account, it was stated that Haskell’s brothers were nice and funny, and that his parents were just good people.

The investigation narrative included that police said Haskell planned on going after other family members.

In one account, it was stated that Cassidy was able to warn police that the shooter had left to find her grandparents and shoot them too, and that her grandparents have said they were in 'awe' of her bravery.