DALLAS (AP) — T. Cullen Davis, a Texas oil tycoon acquitted of murder in a shooting at his secluded Fort Worth mansion in a 1970s case featured in true-crime shows and then acquitted again in an alleged murder-for-hire plot, has died. He was 93.
Davis, who always maintained his innocence, died Friday at his home in the Fort Worth suburb of Colleyville, his son Trey Davis said Monday.
In August 1976, Davis and his second wife, Priscilla Davis, were going through a contentious divorce when a gunman dressed in black and wearing a woman's black wig fatally shot two people at the mansion: her daughter Andrea Wilborn, 12, and her live-in boyfriend, Stan Farr, 30.
Priscilla Davis and a visitor to the mansion, Gus “Bubba” Gavrel Jr., were both wounded but survived. Gavrel's date escaped unharmed.
The three survivors identified Cullen Davis as the gunman. He was tried for capital murder in the death of Wilborn. Defended by prominent Texas attorney Richard “Racehorse” Haynes, Davis' first trial ended in a mistrial because of juror misconduct and the second ended in an acquittal in 1977.
With an oil-based empire valued at $400 million, he was said to be the wealthiest man at that point to stand trial for murder.
Nine months after the verdict, Davis was arrested and charged with solicitation of capital murder. An FBI informant swore that Davis ordered him to kill 15 people, including the judge presiding over his divorce case and the three survivors of the shooting. Davis, once again defended by Haynes, was acquitted in that case as well.
The shooting at the mansion inspired multiple books and was featured in true crime television shows. A 1995 television miniseries titled “Texas Justice” starred Heather Locklear as Priscilla Davis.
By the mid-1980s, his largely oil-based empire was crumbling. He said in the mid-1990s that his company had gone bankrupt “because of the crash of the oil industry, not because of my trials.”
Priscilla Davis died of breast cancer in 2001 at the age of 59.
Trey Davis was adopted by Cullen Davis when his mother, Karen Master, became Cullen Davis' third wife. He described Cullen Davis as someone who “stood with his arms wide open, willing to lovingly accept you regardless of where you stood in life.”
He said that when he first met Cullen Davis in the mid-1970s when his mother was dating him, Cullen Davis was “a fairly caustic person," but that changed when he became a Christian.
“He became a Christian in 1981 and a lot of things changed," Trey Davis said. "He took that very seriously, his dedication to Christ. He was a man of virtue, integrity, grit and humility.”
FILE - Cullen Davis, Ft. Worth industrialist millionaire, is seen in court on Feb. 23, 1977, in Fort Worth, Texas, where he will go on trial for capital murder charges for the slaying of his step daughter Andrea Wilborn. (AP Photo/FK, File) CORRECTION: Corrects to remove that he was on trial for his wife's boyfriend Stan Farr
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The two big additions the San Francisco 49ers made to their starting defense since coming back from the bye helped them deliver the type of defensive performance they will need to make a playoff run.
With star defensive end Nick Bosa back after missing five games because of a calf injury and DeForest Buckner playing his first game since being traded back to the 49ers during the bye week, San Francisco dominated defensively in a 38-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
“Those are two super disruptive players for our D-line and the offense has to have a plan for them at all times,” linebacker Fred Warner said about Bosa and Buckner. “It frees up a lot of things for the rest of the defense.”
While Bosa and Buckner didn't make many splash plays, their presence helped the defense deliver a lot.
The Niners (7-1) generated five takeaways in a game for the first time in nearly 12 years. All five came in the second half, starting with a pick-6 by rookie Jaden Dugger on the first snap of the third quarter.
San Francisco ended the game with takeaways on the final four drives, with Warner forcing a fumble and recovering one, while Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha had interceptions.
The 49ers also held Las Vegas to 24 yards rushing for the lowest total they allowed in a game since holding Atlanta to 17 yards on Nov. 8, 2015.
That's the formula they will need to replicate on defense down the stretch.
“We have the guys to do it,” Bosa said. “We're going to keep getting better. ... It's great to have (Buckner) back and we have the guys to do it.”
Buckner played his first game for the Niners since the Super Bowl following the 2019 season. He was traded the following offseason to Indianapolis and returned Oct. 27 when he was acquired from the Colts for a fourth-round draft pick.
Buckner had two quarterback hits and got one of the loudest cheers during pregame introductions.
“I definitely had some butterflies today,” he said. “Obviously, my first game being back, I was definitely nervous. I just had to tell myself, ‘Just go out there and play football.’”
Generating takeaways. After back-to-back games with no takeaways, the 49ers had five in a game for the first time since Nov. 16, 2014, against the Giants.
Guarding tight ends. The 49ers allowed 10 catches for 148 yards to Las Vegas tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. That was the second-most yards they allowed to opposing tight ends in the last 19 seasons behind the 172 against Arizona on Dec. 17, 2023.
WR Jordan Watkins. With Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel sidelined, Watkins came through with four catches for 86 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown. Watkins has seven catches for 142 yards in his past two games. The 2025 fourth-round pick had only five catches for 82 yards in his career before that.
“J-Wat's done a good job with the opportunity that he's been given,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “If he's got a one-on-one matchup, I'm not going to shy it down.”
Kick coverage unit. The Niners allowed a 54-yard kick return by Dylan Laube that set up a field goal. San Francisco has allowed the fourth-highest return average this season (27.8 yards per return) and the sixth-worst average starting field position after kickoffs (32).
DT Gracen Halton will miss the rest of the season after breaking his ankle. ... Green (back) and CB Deommodore Lenoir (foot) left the game and are day to day. … WR Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and DT C.J. West (knee) are expected back at practice Wednesday. … WR Mike Evans (Achilles tendinitis) won’t practice Wednesday but hasn’t been ruled out this week.
18 — Christian McCaffrey extended his record with his 18th career game with at least one touchdown run and catch. Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk is second with 15.
The 49ers visit Dallas on Sunday in search of the team's second 8-1 start to a season in the last 15 years. They also did it in 2019 on the way to the Super Bowl.
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San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54) celebrates next to linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) after forcing a fumble, which the 49ers recovered, against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Jaden Dugger (53) gestures after returning an interception for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes as San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DeForest Buckner (99) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Kelley L. Cox)
