Gober man to be charged with 1st degree murder

Gober -- In this normally placid part of rural Fannin County, residents still have a kind word and a smile for neighbors and strangers alike because, they will tell you, it is just the right thing to do.

But something very wrong happened just over a mile and a half south of the farming community of Gober, Texas and bloodstains along the side of County Road 3735 serve as a grim reminder.

An investigation by the Fannin County Sheriff's Office that began Monday, April 21 has apparently resulted in a confession of murder by Bo Bailey Harris, 19, of Gober, Texas. Harris was brought in for questioning after the Greenville Police Department notified Fannin County Sheriff's Office Monday, April 21 that two individuals reported a homicide might have occurred in Fannin County. The two individuals supplied law enforcement with the name of the suspect, as well as the name of the possible victim.

Fannin County Deputy Jim Blackwell, Sergeant George Robinson and Investigator Mayberry determined that the possible victim's vehicle was parked at the suspect's residence in Gober and soon afterward Fannin County Chief Deputy Kirk McMurrey and Texas Ranger Brad Oliver arrived in Gober.

The suspect, Bo Bailey Harris, was transported to the Fannin County Sheriff's Office when he allegedly confessed to fatally stabbing William Ian Adams, 22, of Greenville. Harris then told officers where the victim's body could be found.

Indications are Harris and Adams were acquaintances.

At approximately 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22 the victim's body was located on County Road 3735 just over a mile and a half south of FM 68 in Fannin County. He had suffered multiple stab wounds.

William Ian Adams

Indications are the murder occurred after dark on Sunday, April 20 along the county road just after crossing a Sulphur River bridge. Fannin County Sheriff's Office Investigators recovered a knife described as having a thin blade that was between six and eight inches long.

"There was blood on the handle, blood on the knife and blood at the scene," Fannin County Sheriff Kenneth Moore said at a press conference held Tuesday afternoon.

After the murder, the body was concealed in trees along the river's edge.

Fannin County Sheriff Kenneth Moore

"Had you not been looking for a body, you could have driven by there from now on without ever seeing it," Sheriff Moore stated.

Harris, who was living with his grandparents, was already on probation when taken into custody. Harris is expected to be arraigned Wednesday morning and charged with 1st degree murder.

The investigation is still pending and an autopsy will most likely be performed on Adams by Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences on April 23.

The murder evidently occurred just across this bridge over Sulphur River.

The victim's body was found along the Sulphur River bank on the right of this photograph.

The body was concealed in trees along the river's edge.