Texas Game Warden Arrests Murder Suspect

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LITTLEFIELD – A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden has arrested a 71-year-old man wanted in Colorado for first degree murder in the shooting death of his wife of 45 years.

Game Warden Lance May was on his way to a meeting with a group of Bailey County land owners to discuss deer hunting issues about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday when he saw a west-bound late model car swerving from lane to lane on U.S. Highway 84 and Loop 430 about a mile east of Littlefield.

Suspecting an intoxicated driver, the warden briefly followed the car as it continued to operate erratically, stopping it at the intersection of Wayland Jennings and Badger Streets in Littlefield. May routinely radioed in the plate number of the vehicle to obtain registration information and soon learned the driver was wanted on an assault warrant issued in Mecklenburg County, N.C. and arrested him.

The man was identified as Richard Paul Stewart of Independence, MO.

While talking with Stewart, who seemed to be confused and having difficulty remaining conscious, May became concerned for the man’s health and called for an ambulance. The man was taken to Lamb County Health Care Center in Littlefield. About midnight, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at University Medical Center in Lubbock.

About the same time, May received notification that an arrest warrant for first degree murder and domestic violence had been issued for Stewart in connection with the fatal shooting of Norma Stewart, 71, about 7 a.m. Monday in Westminster, CO.

Game Warden Maj. Rick Gully of Lubbock said Stewart remains under guard Wednesday at the Lubbock hospital.

May, originally from Lubbock, has been stationed in Lamb County since his graduation from the TPWD game warden academy four years ago.