Palo Pinto County in Texas hasn’t had a murder investigation since December 2024. That is, until 32-year-old Leah Adams was found on the 27th of August. Now, details found by the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Rangers have led to the arrest and indictment of 50-year-old Michael Wayne Hatcher. A resident of Mineral Wells, he is currently being held in the Palo Pinto County Jail without bond and is charged with capital murder. According to WFAA, Adams was discovered in the Brazos River near Oaks Crossing early in the morning. When investigators arrived at the scene, they discovered Adams lying face up in the water with a blanket placed beside her. In the initial search, her white Dodge Ram 1500 pickup was found nearby, fully engulfed in flames. The search warrant affidavit, reviewed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, noted that Adams had suffered “severe trauma” to her face. Investigators believe this trauma may have been caused by a gunshot wound. Additionally, an open knife was recovered from the shoreline, and the victim’s driver’s license was later located further downstream. Hatcher soon became a subject of interest after Adams’ brother provided information about her cellphone’s last known location. A meticulous search The location data reportedly pointed to a home in the 400 block of North Swanson Road in Mineral Wells. When law enforcement interviewed the occupants of that residence, they identified Hatcher and his romantic partner. Law & Crime reported that Hatcher told Texas Ranger Espinoza he had been fishing at the river on August 26 when he encountered Adams. During this interview, Hatcher claimed that Adams “had begun flirting with him.” VIDEO: Palo Pinto County Sheriff identifies woman murdered near burning vehicle @FOX4 …PALO PINTO COUNTY, Texas – Authorities have identified a woman found dead near a burning vehicle along the Brazos River last week as 32-year-old Leah Dawn Adams, the Palo Pinto County… pic.twitter.com/CB9onnIvcj— David Sentendrey (@DavidSFOX4) September 3, 2026 During questioning, Hatcher told the investigators that he and Adams drove in her truck to a nearby gas station. He insisted that Adams never entered his own vehicle, a red Ford F-150 owned by his girlfriend, though he claimed she sat on the tailgate. Hatcher further stated that he left the river “sometime after midnight” and returned “right before sunrise.” Per Law & Crime, he explicitly told officials that “only he and Leah were at the river together after midnight.” He claimed that when he returned to the river early the next day, he did not see Adams, although he noted that her truck was still at the location. In another case earlier this year, a soccer star’s body was found after the police tracked down her Jeep through an AirTag. The Star-Telegram reported that Espinoza observed a “transfer stain consistent with blood under the front pocket of Hatcher’s jeans.” When investigators spoke with the woman who lives with Hatcher, she told them that she had seen him lying on a wooden bench in their front yard when she woke up to take her children to school that morning. She reportedly granted consent for police to search her Ford F-150, which Hatcher had driven to the river. Inside the truck, authorities found a backpack containing a journal and Adams’ expired driver’s license. They also discovered a small drop of blood on the passenger seat and a shirt covered in blood and sand. According to the affidavit, “Once the victim’s driver’s license was located, the search was stopped until a search warrant would be able to be obtained.” Authorities have identified a woman found dead near a burning vehicle along the Brazos River last week as 32-year-old Leah Dawn Adams, the Palo Pinto County Sheriff's Office announced. https://t.co/KSv3zTKYEG— FOX 4 NEWS (@FOX4) September 2, 2026 After securing the warrant, Law and Crime noted that officials seized several key items in their search of the house. They found human hair, a blue shirt with a bloodstain, and a Taurus GX4 handgun. According to the Star-Telegram, Leah Adams was a phlebotomist who had been working in the field for 10 years and a mother of three young daughters. Her mother, Stacy Carnley, shared that the family is desperate to keep her memory alive for her children, stating, “She does not need to be forgotten.” Friends and family reportedly described Adams as a person with a beautiful soul and a vibrant personality who loved nature and animals. Her obituary noted that she would be remembered for her laughter and the deep connections she formed with those around her. However, her family wants answers. Her father, Troy Adams, expressed his frustration with the lack of clarity regarding the circumstances of her death, per the Star-Telegram. “There’s something big missing from the story,” He said. “There’s just something wrong with this picture. That’s why I need answers so bad.” For now, the case remains open as authorities work to ensure justice for Adams and her family.