Rich Flowers
The Athens Review
ATHENS —
Preliminary forensic reports confirm that a body discovered on property south of Athens Friday is the son of former Texas Governor Bill Clements, Henderson County Sheriff Ray Nutt said, Monday.
Officers had been searching for Bill “Gill” Clements Jr., near County Road 4610 Friday when they ran into a standoff with Howard Todd Granger. The stalemate ended with Granger dead of a single gunshot wound. Clements body was later discovered nearby.
Texas Ranger Michael Adcock is heading the investigation into the deaths of both men. Adcock said any new information concerning his findings will be released through the HCSO.
Authorities had not identified the cause of Clements’ death, Monday afternoon.
The timeline of events leading to the discovery of Clements body began when authorities received a call at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday concerning Clements’ disappearance. On Friday, as officers continued to search, they were allegedly threatened by Granger.
Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Milton Adams issued warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Officers returned with the arrest warrant and a warrant to search the property.
HCSO reports said opened fire on the officers with an AK-47 assault rifle Reportedly, law enforcement backed away long enough to secure the use of an armored vehicle used jointly by officials in five nearby counties that share a grant for the vehicle.
Adams said Clements’ burial site was discovered later that evening. The location was preserved in order to process the body the following day. On Saturday, officers recovered Clements’ body intact and also found a wallet and articles of his clothing.
Tyler Police Department Public Information Officer Don Martin said the department applied for a $250,000 grant more than a year ago for the Special Police Armored Rescue vehicle which arrived in May. The vehicle is available to assist Tyler area law enforcement agencies, but, had only been used once before it was sprayed with gunfire in Henderson County, Friday.
“The armored vehicle probably saved our people’s lives,” Nutt said.
Tyler sent a team of three officers HCSO had 10 others aboard when the vehicle arrived at Grangers property. It left with numerous bullet holes, but no officer injured.
According to a story previously published in the Review, Nutt said he was only aware of one discussion he knows of between Granger and Clements. The incident occurred “some time back,“ when Granger allegedly was shooting at a tree on the Clements property from his own property. It is believed this caused a hole in the fence between the two properties, Nutt said.
Nutt knows of no legal documents being filed in the incident, and knows of no legal action taken against Granger through Henderson County for anything else.
