State of Texas v. Billy Ray Hill - NOT GUILTY

POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE  

Sunday March 26, 2006

Hill found Not Guilty of felony injury to a child

By EMILY BANKS

News Editor

LIVINGSTON - Following approximately four hours and 15 minutes of deliberation, a Polk County jury recently found Billy Hill not guilty of first degree felony injury to a child in conjunction with the death of a 4-years boy.

In January of 2004, Tabitha Boone was charged in the murder of her son whose body was recovered Jan. 09, 2004 from a shallow grave near the family's residence in Ace.

The Child, Anthony Lafeyette Boone, had apparently been missing for about four months, but authorities were unaware until Child Protective Services (CPS) received a tip about the missing child.

The tip launched an investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Department and CPS and the child's mother confessed to killing the boy.

The murder is believed to have occurred at the Boone residence off Lee Road in Ace. The child's body was then carried down a back road behind the mobile home, where it was buried in a grave about 18 inches deep and three feet long. The child's body was reportedly covered with a blanket and lime.

The murder is believed to have occurred in middle or late September of 2003.

Hill, who was living with the child's mother at the time of the murder, was initially charged with tampering with physical evidence after confessing to helping bury the body of the child.

However, upon further investigation, he was subsequently charged with capital murder.

            Testimony began March 6 in the 411^th District Court with Judge Robert Hill Trapp presiding. The jury returned the not guilty verdict on March 14.

Currently in custody on probation revocation for drugs, Hill is still looking at two to 10 years for tampering with physical evidence, a third degree felony.

"Our intention it to go ahead and plead guilty," David Ryan, Hill's attorney, said.

The case was prosecuted by Polk County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Lee Hon.

Tabatha Boone, the child's mother, is in the Polk County Jail, awaiting trial.

            At the time of the child's death, Tabitha Boone was pregnant with another child, who was born in mid-November of 2003. She also had a 6-year-old daughter. Those two children were turned over to CPS for placement in foster care.

Funeral services for the child were held Jan. 16, 2004 at the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel.

Touched by the child's tragic death, local peace officers collected money to buy a headstone for the child?s grave.