New twist in San Saba murder-for-hire

SAN SABA, Texas (KXAN) - At 85, Bonnie Harkey was loved by her neighbors in San Saba County and affectionately known as the Pecan Queen because of the sprawling and fertile farm of nut-bearing trees that had been in her family for years.

Harkey was, recalled family friend Donna Bush, "one of the sweetest ladies I ever knew."

But her violent death in March shook the quiet Hill Country community about two hours northwest of Austin, both for its brutality and for the fact that members of her own family were charged in what authorities a far-reaching murder-for-hire scheme over the Harkey family fortune.

And now, new details uncovered by KXAN could have a major impact on the upcoming trial. 

• The story told in photos

Authorities said that the murder-for-hire scheme was hatched to gain control of the Harkey family estate and rooted in deep family secrets. Some of those secrets still haunt some of the people involved. 

Those people spoke exclusively to KXAN. 

Just outside of San Saba sits the small town of Harkeyville, named for the Harkey family and its generations of pecan farming. But today, there are no Harkeys left on the farm. They’re either dead or in jail.    

Even before her killing on March 25, it was clear Bonnie Harkey was slowing down. Her husband, Riley had passed away, and she relied on a caretaker, Karen Johnson, for help around the house and getting around town. 

But those who knew Bonnie best say members of her family just couldn't wait for her to die.

“She was very good to everybody she knew -- too good to these people who took advantage of her,” said Donna Bush. 

According to police, one Sunday back in the early spring while Bonnie was at church, her adopted grandson, Carl Pressley, sneaked into her home. The caretaker and Bonnie later came home. 

As a signal, Pressley's girlfriend rang the doorbell, knowing Johnson would answer, police said. When the caretaker came to the door, Pressley sneaked up behind her, killed her and then kidnapped his grandmother.  Pressley was in police custody hours later, confessing to the crimes. 

“He did say he was sorry repeatedly,” said Sgt. John Wilkerson, an investigator with the San Saba County Sheriff’s Office. “He asked me to forgive him, made comments about burning in hell for the actions that he did.”

• Bruce Harkey's federal detention order (contains profane lanuage)
   
• Indictment against Bruce Harkey
   
• Judgment against Bruce Harkey
• Bruce Harkey's 2003 arrest report
   

Investigators say Carl Pressley went to a campground in Leon County where he admitted to holding his grandmother's head underwater and burying her body in a shallow grave that he covered with leaves.

Autopsy reports indicate Bonnie Harkey may have been buried alive. Pressley and his girlfriend, Lillian King, face charges in San Saba and Leon counties.

But that’s not all Carl Pressley told investigators. While admitting to the kidnapping and murders, Pressley says he did it because his uncle, Bruce Harkey, paid him to do it.

“There was a payment made to Carl Pressley and of course there were some arrangements to be made that further payment would be made to Carl Pressley for killing Bonnie Harkey,” said Wilkerson.

Harkey was arrested and charged with solicitation of murder. 

Bruce Harkey is Bonnie Harkey's stepson. His late father left the family estate in Bonnie’s control, but Bruce was set to inherit a large portion of the estate upon his stepmother's death. Those close to Bonnie say she was afraid of Bruce and other family members.

“They were mean,” said close friend, Myrna Najar.  “They were so greedy.”

But Bruce Harkey tells a different story. He called KXAN from behind bars in the Taylor County jail, where he awaits trial. In an interview, Harkey said he is innocent and that his nephew is a liar.

“I didn't have a damn thing to do with harming that woman in any way,” Bruce Harkey said in a phone call with KXAN.  “I don't feel guilty because Carl's not a human being.  He is the living epitome of evil."

Investigators say the motive behind Bruce Harkey’s solicitation of Bonnie Harkey’s murder was greed. Bruce Harkey, they say, felt pressure from years of past-due child support. And the family pecan fortune was his way out.

The he denies any wrongdoing comes as no surprise to investigators.

“Bruce Harkey would not confess to anything he's done wrong,” said Wilkerson.

Meanwhile, KXAN has found that it is not the first time Bruce Harkey has been accused of soliciting murder.  We uncovered a 2003 case in which there is evidence he tried to have his ex-wife killed.  KXAN located Harkey’s ex-wife, whom we are identifying only as "Kami." She has been in hiding with their child since before her marriage ended. 

“He said he would kill me and they would never implicate him,” Kami told KXAN.  “It was very true. He tried to have me killed.

“He started to warn me at least once a week, that if I ever tried to run -- and that's what he called it, ‘to run’