Teresa Gail McDowell, a 52-year-old white female, tragically lost her life on September 13, 2022, in Marble Falls, Texas. Teresa was born on November 12, 1969, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and later moved to Texas, where she built a successful cleaning business and was a devoted mother and grandmother. Her sudden death shocked the community, as she was known for her generosity and dedication to her family and clients.
On the night of her death, Teresa Gail McDowell and her 49-year-old
brother, John Arnold McDowell, were found dead at a residence in Marble Falls. The Marble Falls Police Department received a 911 call at approximately 1:50 a.m. reporting a domestic disturbance at the home. Upon arrival, officers discovered Teresa's body in the driveway and John's body in the side yard. Both victims had suffered gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect in the double homicide was identified as 52-year-old William Allen Rutland, who was taken into custody at the scene. Rutland, a white male, had a known dating history with Teresa, and investigators believe that she may have been attempting to evict or remove him from the property at the time of the killings. Rutland was charged with capital murder of multiple persons and was booked into the Burnet County Jail on a $1 million surety bond.
In January 2023, William Allen Rutland pleaded guilty to the charges of capital murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The swift resolution of the case was attributed to the diligent efforts of the Marble Falls Police Department, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office, the Granite Shoals Police Department, and the Texas Rangers. The victims' family members were given the opportunity to make statements after Rutland's sentencing, emphasizing the impact of his actions and the importance of justice for Teresa and John McDowell.
