Eustace man leaves jail after being wrongly-incarcerated, joins military service

By Art Lawler Staff Writer

Chris Underhill will soon be fighting for his country in Afghanistan, his mother said Thursday.

He was in the Athens Review office Thursday, proudly wearing his new uniform and calvary hat signifying he was now a member of the modern-day cavalry and a scout in the U.S. Army.

He is with the first detachment of the 124th Army National Guard in Corsicana, soon to be deployed to Afghanistan.

The county’s residents will remember Underhill as the young man accused of making a “hit list” at Eustace High School last year.

In spite of the fact that there was never truly a “hit list,” Underhill spent 46 days in Henderson County Jail.

“It was crazy,” said his attorney Brian Schmidt after he was finally successful in getting Underhill released from jail on a reduced bond.

“It was just one of those things fueled by rumors and hysteria,” Schmdt said at the time.

Underhill never blamed school officials or law enforcement officials for his incarceration.

“I would have done the same thing if I was in their (the officials’) place,” he said, concerning the accusations.

He did blame some of his classmates, and is still a little perturbed by what he sees as a lack of justice.

“They basically, committed perjury,” he said.

Underhill spent his 19th birthday in jail being visited by his parents.

“My mother was in tears,” he said at the time.

Eustace Police Chief Robert Walker wouldn’t say at first, whether he had actually seen a hit list, but weeks later told a Tyler television station that there never was a list, though he had sworn statements from classmates concerning the alleged “ hit list.”

But that was then, and this is now. He is with the first detachment of the 124th Army National Guard in Corsicana, waiting for his deployment papers.

Underhill’s mother, Dee Rainville, said this week that her son had “gotten over and past,” the troubles that caused him to conclude his senior year in county jail.

“He’s now 20-years-old, and has been promoted in the National Guard to the rank of Specialist,” she said proudly .

Underhill is a cavalry scout who will be involved In a humanitarian effort in an area near the Pakistani border on the eastern side of Afghanistan, which is where much violence has been recently.

He’ll be part of a security force protecting other soldiers who are teaching Afghanistan citizens farming techniques.

“We have to make sure they’re safe,” said Underhill Thursday. “We’ll be the security for those areas.

“It ‘s kind of scary,” his mother said, “But it’s the life he chose, and he’s been properly trained, so it’s OK with me.”

Underhill said he will be part of Secfor, which is a military security force.

If all goes well, he expects to be back by the end of the year, “unless I extend my deployment.”

“He continues to rise above what occurred before, and is not letting it hold him back,” his mother said.

The Grand Jury’s decision not to indict him for lack of evidence wiped away what would have been a third-degree felony, which would have ended his military career before it ever got started.

“We were not surprised at the Grand Jury result, said his grandfather, Dirk Braune, after Chris’ release. “We’re very happy, but not surprised. We felt this was all a set-up caused by students.”

“The fact I know I didn’t do it, and I know they (other students) just wanted me gone, lets me know they basically committed perjury,” he says now.

A small picnic party was being organized Thursday, so he can get together with friends, relatives and well-wishers this weekend.