John Freeman, a 51-year-old resident of Chico, Texas, tragically died on June 15, 2022, from multiple gunshot wounds. The incident occurred at his home on Private Road 1652, about three miles north of Chico. Responding to a call from a concerned friend, Wise County Deputies and EMS arrived at the scene and confirmed Freeman's death.
Following an extensive investigation involving the Wise County Sheriff's Office, the Texas Rangers, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, a suspect was identified. McKinley Mantrell Bradford, a 39-year-old resident of Lawton, Oklahoma, was named as the primary suspect. Bradford was arrested on June 18, 2022, in Wichita Falls and later transferred to Wise County custody.
The case gained significant attention as it unfolded, with Bradford eventually being found guilty of Freeman's murder by a Wise County jury on December 16, 2024. Bradford was subsequently sentenced to 50 years in prison on December 17, 2024.
The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings highlighted the collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies and underscored the importance of swift and thorough responses to such tragic events.
