Loyd Dewey Choat, a 58-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, was tragically murdered on September 1, 1969, in Fort Worth, Texas. Choat was working as a gas station attendant when he was abducted and shot by Charles Wooten and an unnamed 16-year-old accomplice. Choat's body was later discovered in a creekbed near Watauga.
Initially, Stephen James Duffy and Henry W.
Baldwin were charged with Choat's murder, but the charges were dropped when Charles Wooten was implicated by his underage accomplice and other associates. Wooten was eventually held without bond on two counts of capital murder, including the murder of Choat.
The investigation into Choat's death revealed that Wooten had a history of criminal activities, including armed robbery and other violent crimes. Wooten's arrest came after an attempted robbery at a grocery store where his father worked. During his detention, Wooten made a confession about an additional crime, but it was dismissed as a hoax.
The case against Wooten was built on the testimonies of his accomplices and the evidence linking him to the crime scenes. Despite the initial confusion and multiple arrests, the true perpetrator was eventually brought to justice.
This tragic event left a lasting impact on the community and highlighted the importance of thorough investigations in solving violent crimes.
