T. Cullen Davis

Thomas Cullen Davis (born September 22, 1933) is an American former oil tycoon who is best known for being acquitted of murder and attempted murder in two high-profile trials during the 1970s.

At the time of his first trial, Davis was believed to be the wealthiest man to have stood trial for murder in the United States.

Davis married Sandra Masters on August 29, 1962.

They had two sons, Cullen Jr. and Brian Davis.

Davis and his brothers received equal shares of their father's estate upon his death in 1968, and all three were described as possessing keen business instincts.

Davis had a reputation in Fort Worth society circles for displays of bad temper and general "creepiness", according to female associates.

Davis' second marriage was to Priscilla Lee Childers.

They were married on August 29, 1968, only hours after the death of his father.

It was her third marriage.

Priscilla had one daughter from her first marriage, and two children from her second marriage, including Andrea Wilborn.

In 1972, Davis spent $6 million ($ million today) to build Stonegate Mansion, a five-bedroom, 11-bath mansion with an indoor pool and a 2000 sqft master bedroom.

In its prime, the luxurious, contemporary home of courtyards, tunnels and balconies at 4100 Stonegate Blvd. was decorated with more than 100 oil paintings.

Davis and Childers separated in 1974 and both began dating other people openly.

A judge granted Priscilla the right to live in the Stonegate property during the divorce proceedings and further authorized substantial spousal and child support payments from Davis to Childers.

Her live-in boyfriend was Stan Farr, a former basketball star at nearby Texas Christian University.

First he was accused of murdering his 12-year-old stepdaughter on August 2, 1976, during a contentious divorce from his second wife, Priscilla Davis.

He was found not guilty.

The second trial, two years later, involved allegations that Davis attempted to hire a hitman to kill both Priscilla and the judge overseeing his divorce from Priscilla.

Again, Davis was acquitted.

Thomas Cullen Davis was the middle of three sons born to legendary Fort Worth, Texas oilman Kenneth W. "Stinky" Davis.

His father founded KenDavis Industries International, Inc., which manufactured goods used in the petroleum industry.

On August 2, 1976, an intruder entered Stonegate Mansion and killed 12-year-old Andrea Wilborn, who was home alone after returning from a Bible study.

The body of Andrea would later be found in the basement, apparently shot execution-style.

When Childers and her then-boyfriend Stan Farr returned home, both were shot.

Farr died at the scene.

Childers staggered from the house being pursued by the killer as family friends Beverly Bass and Gus Gavrel Jr. (who later married), drove up to the mansion.

The killer shot Gavrel, paralyzing him for life.

Childers identified Davis to police, saying he had shot her and Farr, wearing no disguise except a wig.

Gavrel (who died on December 6, 2018, of pancreatic cancer, aged 64) said he was shot after Bass recognized the gunman as Davis and called him by name.

Police arrested Davis that same night, at the home he shared with Karen Master, his then-girlfriend who would become his third wife.

At the first trial, Davis's wealth was estimated at over $100 million ($ million today).

Davis was only tried for the murder of Andrea.

He was defended by famous Texas defense attorney Richard "Racehorse" Haynes.

The prosecution case relied almost entirely on eyewitness testimony.

Earlier the day of the shooting, a judge had ordered Davis's monthly support to Priscilla increased from $3500 to $5000 ($ to $ today) and to pay her legal fees of $25,000 ($ today) and household expenses of $24,000 ($ today).

This change was proposed as a motive for the crimes.

Davis did not testify in his own defense.

Haynes's defense concentrated on two main points.

First, the complete lack of physical evidence linking Davis to the crime (no fingerprints, no firearm linked to the murder, etc.).

Second, Haynes focused on the eyewitness testimony, particularly Priscilla.