Jessica Payton, a 35-year-old woman from Lubbock, Texas, was tragically killed on October 28, 2015. She was found the next day, wrapped in a comforter and weighed down with cinder blocks in a creek near County Roads 7300 and 3600. Investigators believe she was shot four times in the head. Jessica was Mark Bethel's girlfriend, but evidence showed she was also in a relationship with Shawn Summers, who was found dead in a burning SUV on October 31, 2015.
Mark Bethel, 59, and his cousin
David Bethel, 46, were arrested in connection with the murders. Prosecutors argued that Mark Bethel killed Jessica and Summers after discovering the affair, with David Bethel helping to dispose of Jessica's body. David Bethel later pleaded guilty to murder in connection with Summers' death and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Mark Bethel was found guilty of capital murder in November 2021 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The case was built on testimonies from David Bethel's girlfriend, Kris Thoeny, who overheard the cousins planning the murders, and a neighbor who heard gunshots coming from Bethel's home. The investigation revealed that Mark Bethel shot Summers, then drove away with his body, passing by as deputies responded to Summers' 911 call.
This tragic double homicide shook the community and led to a lengthy legal battle that culminated in the conviction of Mark Bethel. The case highlighted the devastating consequences of jealousy and betrayal, leaving two families grieving and a community searching for justice.
