Bryan Campbell
A West Texas man is in jail after police say he drove across the state with the intention of killing his ex-girlfriend and their two children so he wouldn’t have to pay child support.
Police in Beeville, about 90 miles southeast of San Antonio, arrested 34-year-old Bryan Curtis Campbell of Odessa during a traffic stop Wednesday, KZTV-TV reported.
Police said Campbell encountered a house-sitter, Kristopher Steward, when he got to his ex’s home in Beeville after making the 450-mile drive. Article continues on the next pages.
“I am here to watch the dogs”
Steward told authorities that Campbell forced his way into the home and pinned him down with a machete, but he was able to get free and call 911.
“He asked me where the family was, and I told him, they are not here,” Steward said. “I am here to watch the dogs, and that’s all.”
Police located Campbell’s vehicle a short time later, and an officer noticed “highly suspicious” items inside, Sgt. Greg Baron of the Beeville Police Department said.
Tired of paying child support
“When the driver was questioned about it, he said to the officer he had come to Beeville to commit murder,” Baron said.
Authorities told KIII-TV that Campbell, inspired by the serial-killer drama Dexter, admitted to being tired of paying child support and planned to kill his ex-girlfriend and their two children. He was going to chop up and dispose of the bodies, police said.
Campbell was booked into the Bee County jail on four counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. His bail is set at $1 million.