THIRD SUSPECT SENTENCED IN MILAM COUNTY MURDER
A Milam County man has been sentenced for his part in the 2017 murder of a Rockdale women.
37-year old John Wayne Stewart was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon in the death of 34-year old Emily Hacker.
Stewart’s charge was reduced after he cooperated with investigators in the case.
Two other suspects, 32-year old Edward Barry of Caldwell and 32-year old Candice Jones of Rockdale were sentenced to 50 years in prison on charges of First Degree Felony Murder.
A fourth suspect, 24-year old Ashley Wesson-Zawadzke had her sentencing hearing reset, while 31-year old Kevin Cormier, charged with Tampering with Evidence, has not had his trial date set.
Hacker was reported missing January 19th of 2017, and authorities found her body eight days later, burned and buried in a shallow grave in rural Burleson County. Autopsy results show Hacker died of blunt force trauma.