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Willyam, Daniel v. State
Citation: Not availableDocket: 05-11-01600-CR
Court: Court of Appeals of Texas; March 5, 2013; Texas; State Appellate Court
Original Court Document: View Document
Daniel Willyam was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, with the judgment affirmed by the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas. On appeal, Willyam contended that the evidence was insufficient for his conviction and that his constitutional right to confrontation was violated through the admission of his medical records. The factual background reveals that Samantha Nance, known as Shelley, was a dedicated student living with fellow student Ashley Olvera. Shelley was dating Nathan Shuck, also a student, but their relationship was described as innocent and not serious. Willyam, who lived with Nathan, had a close, almost sibling-like relationship with him and was openly homosexual. He reportedly disapproved of Nathan's relationship with Shelley, believing it negatively affected Nathan’s academic performance. Willyam expressed his concerns to Ashley and became increasingly frustrated with Nathan's time spent with Shelley, even encouraging Ashley to discuss the matter with her. Willyam's behavior escalated to monitoring Nathan and Shelley’s interactions, and he exhibited signs of jealousy. Notably, he mentioned to Ashley that he was at their apartment complex while claiming to have a restraining order, which police records refuted. During this time, he borrowed Ashley’s car, including keys to Shelley’s apartment, under the pretext of needing to pick up Nathan. On September 10, Ashley received numerous text messages from the appellant starting around 10 a.m., inquiring about her whereabouts and expressing a desire to meet, but without specifying the purpose. Ashley provided excuses for not meeting and noted that the volume of texts was unusual. The messaging continued until 1:15 p.m., with a pause between 10:37 a.m. and 12:03 p.m. After returning home that afternoon, she did not see her roommate, Shelley, and attended class the following day without having seen her. Shelley’s parents, who had left for a road trip to Yellowstone, texted their daughters but received no response from Shelley. Concerned, they contacted the Art Institute to check on Shelley, prompting Ashley to go home. Upon entering their apartment, she found the door easier to open than usual but could not confirm its locked status. Discovering Shelley’s body in her room, with pale toes visible beneath a blanket and blood on the bedding, Ashley immediately called a friend and 9-1-1. Detective Jason Gindrat investigated the scene, noting no signs of forced entry, although the patio door was unlocked. He collected latent fingerprints, excluding those of the appellant and Nathan, and observed blood smears in the bathroom and kitchen, along with missing knives from the kitchen. Shelley’s body was found face down, indicating she may have been attacked while sleeping, and there were no signs of a struggle. Forensic evidence collected included a piece of blue material from Shelley’s hand, which did not appear to originate from the apartment, and her blood-covered bedding. Dr. Reade Quinton performed Shelley’s autopsy on September 12, noting signs of rigor mortis and early decomposition. Although a green strap was found, suggesting possible restraint, no ligature marks were present on Shelley’s wrists, and the record offered little discussion regarding this evidence. Both parties concentrated on a blue material related to the victim, Shelley, whose death was believed to have occurred within one to two days prior to the investigation, likely on Thursday or Friday. Although the possibility of death occurring two-and-a-half days earlier was acknowledged, it was deemed unlikely due to minimal decomposition. The precise time of death, particularly Thursday between 9 a.m. and noon as suggested by the State, could not be established. Shelley sustained forty-two stab wounds, primarily on the right side of her neck, with additional wounds on her back. Critical vascular damage was identified, with her right jugular vein and carotid artery severed, leading to death in minutes. Bruises were noted on her scalp, likely from blunt-force trauma, and cuts on her fingers suggested defensive wounds. Dr. Quinton classified the cause of death as homicide due to "multiple sharp-forced injuries," describing the attack as one of hatred and anger, indicative of "overkill." Initial investigations focused on Shelley's close friends, especially Nathan, who lacked an alibi for the time of her death and owned a knife collection. Text exchanges between Shelley and Jeremi Eldridge around 11 p.m. on Wednesday, along with Shelley’s last activity on her computer at 5:57 a.m. on Thursday, framed the timeline. Shelley had discussed ending her relationship with Nathan with her mother. During a search of Nathan's bathroom, police found a Ziploc bag with hair strands and blood, which matched Shelley’s DNA, alongside an unexplained feather. As the investigation progressed, the focus shifted to appellant, who had expressed animosity towards Shelley. His activities on September 10 included numerous texts to Ashley and purchases at Walmart, including hair dye, soap, and gloves. Surveillance footage corroborated his movements and texting during this period, with the feather's relevance linked to the video game World of Warcraft, which appellant played. Appellant had a latex allergy, necessitating the purchase of hair dye without latex gloves. Christopher Phillips, a friend, testified that appellant did not buy extra gloves when purchasing hair dye. After Shelley’s body was found, appellant claimed he was robbed at knife point at The Falls complex on September 10, stating his wallet and a backpack were stolen. He mentioned the backpack contained clothes to avoid getting them dirty while washing his car and repeated this to Alison Morales, his roommate, but did not report the robbery to police. Appellant later expressed to Alison his fear of being blamed for Shelley’s murder due to his known animosity towards her but denied involvement in her death. During the investigation, appellant allowed police to search his car, where they found what appeared to be blood on the gear shift, leading to the vehicle's seizure. Subsequent testing revealed the blood was not Shelley’s. Forensic biologist Courtney Ferreira analyzed DNA from evidence in apartments and vehicles belonging to appellant and Nathan. While some samples from Shelley’s apartment tested positive for blood, only a few provided sufficient DNA for analysis. A bathroom sink swab matched Shelley’s DNA profile, while a bathtub swab indicated a mixture of two individuals, neither of whom could be identified as appellant or Nathan. Additional samples from Shelley’s apartment also matched her DNA, with no evidence of appellant's DNA present. An unknown male's genetic markers were found on a swab from the toilet handle in appellant's apartment, but these were not confirmed as blood. Forensic scientist John Witkowski examined a piece of blue material found in Shelley’s hand, comparing it to nitrile gloves from first responders and a box purchased from Walmart. First responders’ gloves were visually excluded, while comparisons with the Walmart gloves showed some consistency but also differences, particularly in color. Ultimately, Witkowski could not definitively link the blue material to any specific manufacturer, including Reli On, due to the potential for multiple manufacturers producing similar materials. After a thorough investigation of all evidence and suspects, police arrested appellant. The appellant was charged with first-degree murder and subsequently convicted, receiving a life sentence. He appeals on the grounds that the evidence presented against him was insufficient for a conviction. He claims the State's evidence consisted solely of suspicious activity linked to the day of the victim, Shelley’s murder, and highlights the lack of fingerprints, scientific evidence, and a clear motive connecting him to the crime. The State counters that circumstantial evidence supports the conviction and that the jury was entitled to reject defense theories suggesting Nathan or an unknown man was the actual murderer. In assessing the sufficiency of the evidence, the court reviews it in the light most favorable to the jury's verdict to determine if any rational jury could have found the essential elements of the crime proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury is the sole judge of witness credibility, and the court will not reweigh evidence as a "thirteenth juror." The standard applies equally to both direct and circumstantial evidence, and the State is not required to disprove all reasonable hypotheses of innocence; rather, it must show that the inferences supporting guilt are reasonable based on the cumulative evidence. The legal definition of murder is met if the individual intentionally or knowingly causes another’s death, and motive, while relevant, is not essential for a conviction. Evidence indicated the appellant harbored animosity toward Shelley, stemming from jealousy over her relationship with Nathan. Despite claiming to be in a new relationship, the jury could dismiss this explanation. The nature of the murder—42 stab wounds—suggested a personal and vicious attack without indications of robbery or sexual assault. Although physical evidence directly linking the appellant to the murder was absent at the crime scene, he admitted to being present at the location on the day of the murder. Surveillance footage showed him purchasing gloves near the victim's residence, and blood-stained items related to the crime were found in his apartment. Evidence suggested that Nathan used the bathroom where a bloodstained baggie was found, but appellant could have placed it there. Appellant had borrowed keys to Ashley's car, which included her apartment key, allowing him the opportunity to copy it and quietly enter Shelley’s apartment. On the morning of the murder, appellant sent multiple texts to Ashley that ceased during the timeframe of the estimated time of death. Video footage showed no alibi for appellant from when he left Walmart until seen by Ashley later that day. He purchased blue nitrile gloves that morning, and a piece of similar material was found on Shelley’s hand, implying he intended to avoid leaving fingerprints at the scene. The jury evaluated extensive circumstantial and scientific evidence, rejecting appellant’s alternative theories of the murder. Although the defense suggested Nathan could be the killer due to lack of alibi, potential motive, possession of knives, and behavior after Shelley’s disappearance, the jury found him credible when he denied any involvement. The jury also dismissed the notion that someone else framed appellant, as evidence linking other potential suspects to the crime was insufficient. Genetic markers from an unknown male were found in Nathan's bathroom, but they were not confirmed as blood and lacked ties to the crime. The jury was entitled to weigh the evidence and determine guilt, and the State was not obligated to eliminate all reasonable doubts regarding appellant’s guilt. The court emphasized that it would not act as a secondary jury in reassessing the evidence. A rational factfinder could have concluded that the appellant intentionally caused Shelley’s death, affirming the verdict. The appellant's first issue was overruled. In his second issue, the appellant claimed that the introduction of his Veterans Affairs medical records during sentencing violated his constitutional right to confrontation. The State contended that the trial court acted appropriately and that any potential error did not warrant reversal. The appellant had objected to the records at trial on grounds of relevance and confrontation rights, but on appeal, he focused solely on the confrontation argument. Two excerpts from the medical records were read to the jury, detailing the appellant’s expressions of anger towards his superiors and a violent incident involving a Samurai sword. He argued that such evidence characterized him as a "ticking time bomb" and was detrimental to his case, particularly given the contentious nature of his guilt or innocence. The trial court's admission of evidence is reviewed for abuse of discretion, defined as a ruling beyond reasonable disagreement. However, the determination of whether a statement is testimonial, thus violating confrontation rights, is a legal question reviewed de novo. The Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause guarantees the right to confront witnesses against the accused. The Supreme Court's decision in Crawford v. Washington established that out-of-court testimonial evidence is inadmissible unless the declarant is available for cross-examination. The medical records' classification as either testimonial or non-testimonial is crucial, as the latter usually falls under the business records exception to hearsay. Previous rulings have indicated that certain records can be considered testimonial if produced under circumstances suggesting their use in future trials, as illustrated in Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts. A hearsay statement is deemed 'testimonial' if the circumstances indicate that the primary purpose of an interview or interrogation is to establish or prove past events relevant to potential prosecution. However, medical records created for treatment are not considered 'testimonial' under the Crawford standard. In this case, the medical records presented to the jury were made for treatment purposes well before the murder of Shelley, thus not intended to serve as evidence for a future prosecution. These records were specifically created for diagnosing and treating the appellant for post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions. Consequently, the appellant’s right to confrontation was not violated, leading to the overruling of his second issue. The judgment of the trial court, which convicted Daniel Willyam of murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment, is affirmed. The factual background includes details about Shelley, a student at the Art Institute of Dallas, her innocent relationship with Nathan Shuck, and the dynamics of Nathan’s friendship with the appellant, who had an unrequited romantic interest in Nathan and disapproved of Nathan's relationship with Shelley. Nathan described Shelley as a positive influence who encouraged his studies. He frequently communicated with Ashley about Nathan and Shelley, expressing dissatisfaction with Nathan's lack of consideration for his contributions, such as laundry and cooking. Shelley was aware of appellant's feelings toward her and noted to Nathan that she believed appellant did not like her. Appellant was increasingly upset about Nathan not spending time with him, leading to obsessive inquiries about Shelley’s whereabouts, including whether she was home. Prior to September 10, 2011, Ashley encountered appellant at The Falls apartment complex, where he requested her not to disclose his presence due to a purported restraining order, which police records later confirmed did not exist. He borrowed Ashley's car, claiming it was to pick up Nathan, and had access to keys for both Shelley’s and Ashley’s apartments. On September 10, beginning around 10 a.m., appellant sent multiple text messages to Ashley, wanting to meet but not specifying the reason. The frequency of texts was unusual for him, continuing until 1:15 p.m. but pausing briefly between 10:37 a.m. and 12:03 p.m. That afternoon, Ashley returned home and, noticing Shelley was absent, later checked on her after being contacted by Shelley’s parents, who had not heard from her. Upon entering the apartment, Ashley found Shelley’s room door slightly ajar. After knocking and receiving no response, Ashley entered to find Shelley unresponsive, with pale toes visible under a blanket and blood present, prompting her to call for help. Paramedics later pronounced Shelley dead at the scene from multiple stab wounds, and Detective Jason Gindrat of the Dallas Police Department led the investigation. No signs of forced entry were found at the apartment, though the patio door was unlocked. Fingerprints were lifted from the patio door, but comparisons to known prints of the appellant and Nathan excluded them as contributors; there was no record of comparisons to Shelley and Ashley's prints. Detective Gindrat noted red substances in the girls’ bathroom, which appeared to be blood, and collected latent fingerprints from the medicine cabinet, excluding the appellant and Nathan as contributors. The bathtub was wet, and Shelley’s body was found face down, indicating an attack while she was sleeping, with no signs of struggle. Items collected for forensic examination included a piece of blue material from Shelley’s hand and a green strap, with no ligature marks found on her wrists. Blood was observed in the kitchen, and both a large knife and a steak knife were missing. Dr. Reade Quinton performed Shelley’s autopsy, noting early signs of decomposition and that rigor mortis had begun to subside, suggesting death occurred one to two days prior, possibly on Thursday or Friday. Shelley had 42 stab wounds, primarily on the right side of her neck and a cluster on her back, with injuries to her jugular veins and carotid arteries that would have caused death within minutes. Additionally, bruises indicated blunt-force trauma, likely from her head hitting the headboard, and there were cuts on her fingers consistent with defensive wounds. The conclusion was that Shelley was a homicide victim due to multiple sharp-force injuries. Detectives characterized Shelley’s death as a crime fueled by hatred and anger, noting the excessive number of stab wounds, suggesting she was “overkilled.” Initial investigations focused on Shelley’s close friends, particularly Nathan, who lacked an alibi for the time of her death and owned a significant knife collection. Testimony indicated Shelley had texted Nathan shortly before her death, with her last computer activity recorded at 5:57 a.m. on Thursday. Shelley had discussed ending her relationship with Nathan with her mother. During a search of Nathan’s apartment, police discovered a Ziploc bag containing hair strands and a bloodstain, which matched Shelley’s DNA. Investigators also noted that another individual, referred to as appellant, had expressed open dislike for Shelley, prompting further scrutiny of his actions prior to her murder. On September 10, the appellant was seen on Walmart surveillance purchasing hair dye, soap, and gloves, while simultaneously texting Ashley about her whereabouts. Testimony revealed he typically didn’t buy extra gloves when purchasing hair dye. Following Shelley’s body discovery, the appellant claimed he had been robbed at knife point earlier that day but did not report the incident to the police. He later expressed concern to a roommate that he would be implicated in Shelley’s murder due to his known animosity towards her, though he denied any involvement in her death. Appellant also consented to a search of his vehicle as the investigation unfolded. Blood was found on the gear shift of the appellant's vehicle, leading to its seizure; however, DNA testing confirmed that Shelley’s blood was not present. Forensic biologist Courtney Ferreira analyzed DNA from Nathan's and the appellant's apartments, their vehicles, and Shelley’s apartment. Although some blood swabs from Shelley’s apartment were positive, only the swab from the bathroom sink provided an adequate DNA sample matching Shelley. The bathtub swab indicated a mixture involving Shelley and another individual, but the contribution levels were undetermined. No genetic markers from the appellant or Nathan were found, excluding them as contributors. Further analysis of samples from Shelley’s bathroom cabinet, headboard, and materials found with her body matched her DNA. The appellant's DNA was absent from her apartment, while an unknown male's genetic markers were detected on a swab from the toilet handle in the appellant’s guest bathroom, though this was only presumptive for blood and not confirmed. John Witkowski from the Texas Department of Public Safety examined a piece of blue material found in Shelley’s hand, comparing it to nitrile gloves from first responders and a box of Reli On nitrile gloves purchased later. First responders’ gloves were visually excluded due to color differences. The Reli On gloves showed some consistency with the blue material, but differences in color prevented a definitive conclusion. Witkowski could not confirm the source of the blue material, as various manufacturers produce similar nitrile gloves. Following the investigation, the appellant was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, prompting this appeal. The appellant contends that the evidence supporting his conviction is insufficient, arguing that it relies solely on his suspicious behavior on the day of the murder, lacking fingerprints, scientific evidence, and conclusive motive linking him to the crime. The State asserts that circumstantial evidence substantiates the conviction, and the jury was entitled to reject the defense’s claims that either Nathan was the killer or that an unidentified male was responsible for the crime. In evaluating evidence sufficiency, courts assess all evidence favorably to the jury's verdict, determining if any rational juror could have established the crime's essential elements beyond a reasonable doubt, as established in *Jackson v. Virginia*. The jury alone determines the weight and credibility of witness testimony, and the reviewing court does not reassess these judgments (*Williams v. State*). The standard applied is identical for both direct and circumstantial evidence; the State is not required to eliminate all reasonable alternative hypotheses inconsistent with the defendant's guilt. Instead, the focus is on whether the inferences leading to guilt are reasonable based on the totality of the evidence (*Hooper v. State*). Murder is defined as intentionally or knowingly causing another's death, and the State does not need to prove motive, although it can be relevant. Evidence showed the appellant harbored open dislike for the victim, Shelley, driven by jealousy over Shelley's relationship with Nathan. Despite the appellant's claims of being in a new relationship, the jury was entitled to dismiss this. The nature of the murder, characterized by forty-two stab wounds, indicated a personal and vicious attack without typical motives such as theft. Although investigators found no direct physical evidence linking the appellant to the crime scene, he admitted to being present at the location on the day of the murder. Jurors might interpret his fabricated story about a robbery as a means to justify his presence there. Additionally, a Walmart surveillance video showed the appellant purchasing gloves near the time of the murder, though these were not found at his apartment. Contrarily, a bloodstained baggie belonging to Shelley was discovered in a common bathroom of the appellant's apartment, suggesting potential involvement. Evidence indicated that the appellant could have quietly accessed Shelley’s apartment, having previously borrowed keys to a vehicle associated with the crime. The appellant had access to Shelley’s apartment key, which was on her key chain, allowing him to enter without force. On the morning of the murder, he sent multiple texts to Ashley asking about her whereabouts, with the last message sent just before a period aligning with the medical examiner’s estimated time of death. No witnesses provided an alibi for him during the critical time frame after he was seen leaving Walmart until he was spotted by Ashley later that Thursday. On the day of the murder, appellant purchased blue nitrile gloves, which corresponded with a piece of similar material found on Shelley’s hand, suggesting he intended to avoid leaving fingerprints. The jury could reasonably infer his guilt based on the cumulative circumstantial evidence presented. The defense suggested Nathan could be the murderer due to his lack of an alibi, potential motive stemming from a desire to end a relationship with Shelley, possession of knives, and suspicious behavior when he first learned she was missing. Additionally, a blood-stained Ziploc baggie containing Shelley’s hair was found in Nathan’s bathroom. However, the jury had the discretion to weigh this evidence against appellant’s claims and found Nathan credible in his denial of any involvement in the murder. The jury also dismissed the theory that someone else framed appellant, as there was no substantial evidence connecting the other male students to the crime. Although genetic markers from an unknown male were found in Nathan’s bathroom, the jury's credibility determinations and conclusions cannot be re-evaluated. Blood evidence linked to an "unknown male" was deemed presumptive and insufficient to confirm guilt. The jury had the discretion to weigh circumstantial evidence against the appellant, and the appellate court cannot act as an additional juror. The State was not obligated to disprove all reasonable alternative hypotheses regarding the appellant's guilt. A review of the evidence suggests that a rational jury could find the appellant guilty of intentionally causing the death of Shelley beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the overruling of his first issue. In the second issue, the appellant argued that the introduction of his Veterans Affairs medical records during sentencing violated his constitutional right to confrontation. The State contended that the trial court's actions were appropriate and any potential error did not warrant reversal. Although the appellant objected to the relevance of the records at trial, he only raised the confrontation issue on appeal. The records included statements indicating the appellant's past violent thoughts and behaviors, which he argued painted him as a "ticking time bomb" and were prejudicial given the contentious nature of his guilt. The trial court's admission of evidence is subject to an abuse of discretion standard, while the determination of whether a statement is testimonial is a legal question reviewed de novo. Under the Sixth Amendment's Confrontation Clause, out-of-court testimonial evidence is inadmissible unless the declarant is available for cross-examination. The distinction between testimonial and non-testimonial statements, as established in Crawford v. Washington, is crucial to evaluating the admissibility of the medical records. Testimonial hearsay includes prior testimonies from preliminary hearings, grand jury proceedings, former trials, and police interrogations. Business records are classified as non-testimonial under hearsay exceptions. While medical records usually qualify as business records, certain medical records and lab reports can be considered testimonial if created under circumstances indicating they would be used in future trials. Affidavits were deemed testimonial when intended to provide prima facie evidence, as was determined in case law. A hearsay statement is deemed "testimonial" if it appears the primary purpose of the interrogation was to establish facts relevant to potential prosecution. In this case, the medical records presented to the jury were created for treatment purposes and prior to the murder in question, thus their primary intent was not to support future prosecution. Portions of the records related to diagnosing and treating the appellant for post-traumatic stress disorder further affirm their non-testimonial nature. As a result, the appellant's right to confrontation was not infringed. The trial court's judgment is affirmed, concluding the appellate court's review.