San Saba woman buried alive, JP says

LEON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Bonnie Harkey, the 85-year-old woman who was among two people killed after being attacked at a San Saba home last weekend, suffered a severe beating and was likely alive when she was dumped into a shallow grave some 200 miles from her home, an autopsy report release Wednesday said.

Leon County Justice of the Peace Doug Preston said the cause of death for Harkey was "homicidal violence comprising blunt-force head injuries" and probable asphyxiation, including drowning.

Harkey's body was found in a make-shift grave in a ravine in Hilltop Lakes RV Park in Leon County. Preston said the autopsy showed signs of drowning, but that it was unlikely that she was dumped into a body of water. More likely, he said, Harkey breathed in standing water from recent rains in the area.

Harkey and her caretaker, 50-year-old Karen Johnson were both killed after what appeared to be attacks in harkey's home.

Carl Wade Pressley, 28, and Lillian Annette King, 25, are charged in Johnson's death. Bond is $500,000 for Pressley. King is held on $250,000 bond. Information was not immediately available on attorneys for them.

Officials said Pressley is an adopted grandson of Harkey .

The two suspects live several blocks away on the same street as Johnson did, according Texas drivers' license records.

The officials cause of death for Johnson was not available on Wednesday from the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office, which is conducting the autopsy.