The death of Travis County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Craig Hutchinson has been ruled a case of suicide.
Williamson County Justice of the Peace Bill Gravell made the announcement a short time ago, suggesting that the investigation had collected “all pertinent evidence."
“However, if in the future, the days ahead, if credible information is brought forward that suggests a different cause of death or circumstances to this death, I will review that information, executing my duty under chapter 49 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,” he said.
Hutchison was found mortally wounded early on the morning of July 25. He had just returned home from his shift when he radioed in to say there were prowlers on his property. Round Rock Police Chief Allen Banks announced last week that the investigation had determined the bullet that killed Hutchison had been fired from his own weapon. At the time, the chief allowed for the possibility that someone other than Hutchinson fired the weapon.
Findings released today appear to eliminate that possibility.
Today, Commander of the Round Rock Police Criminal Investigation Division, Willie Richards, revealed additional information.
“The round recovered from Craig Hutchinson was fired from his duty weapon and the sole shell casing recovered from the scene was fired from Craig’s weapon as well,” Richards said. “All DNA and fingerprints recovered from the scene have been identified as Craig Hutchinson.”
It was acknowledged today that Hutchinson had been having some financial difficulties, including the impending foreclosure of his home.
He was due to retire this year after more than three decades with the sheriff’s office.
