William Farr, a 50-year-old deaf man, was found dead on February 7, 2016, in San Antonio, Texas. His body was discovered on the sidewalk outside an apartment complex in the 600 block of South Rio Grande Street. Farr, who was unable to hear or speak, was found with a small index card that had the word "sorry" written on it. Initially, there were no obvious signs of foul play or physical trauma, but an autopsy revealed a small-caliber bullet wound on his chest.
Michelle Chase, a
49-year-old woman, was arrested and charged with Farr's murder. Chase had called the police on the morning of February 7, 2016, claiming that she had shot Farr in self-defense. She told investigators that Farr had been banging on the windows and doors of her home, demanding money, and had attacked her when she refused. Chase stated that she fired the gun out of fear and then fled to her godfather's house, where she spent the night. When she returned the next day, she found Farr dead and called the police.
During the investigation, Chase gave contradictory statements to the police about the events leading up to the shooting. She initially denied having a gun but later admitted to shooting Farr when pressed about the inconsistencies in her story. A search of her apartment revealed a .25 caliber handgun hidden in a sock inside a bag in her closet. Chase's defense attorney argued that she had acted in self-defense, claiming that Farr had been stalking her and had become violent when she refused to give him money.
In October 2017, Michelle Chase was convicted of murder for the fatal shooting of William Farr. The jury took three hours to reach a verdict after watching police videos in which Chase made contradictory statements. Chase was sentenced to 45 years in prison in December 2017. She will have to serve at least half of her sentence before becoming eligible for parole. The case highlighted the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and the complexities of self-defense claims in violent encounters.
