BELTON, TX — The family of a man who was brutally murdered in Belton is putting together a petition to make changes to the property where their son drew his last breath.
“Everybody I talk to, they all know about the crime. They’ve all seen the crime,” said Wayne Rourke, father of Michael Vanlandingham.
VanLandingham was shot twice in the head before his body was burned in the woods near FM 1670. Michael’s parents say the property where he was killed, known as ‘the compound,’ is ridden with criminal activity.
“Maybe clean this land up, confiscate it, whatever the state of Texas -- so that nothing like this ever happens again here,” said Rourke.
They would like to one day deliver to Governor Greg Abbott. Currently, they have about 150 signatures.
“I think everyone would sign it. Especially in my neighborhood, Three Creeks. It is a worthy cause,” said Warner Blair, who lives near the compound.
“They’re scared they said, they want this place cleaned up,” said Rourke, referring to the surrounding neighborhoods.
Meanwhile, the family waits for justice. Dana Francis Walcott and Owen Free III are facing charges in connection to the shooting death. The family says the court date for the two suspects has been pushed twice.
“We want to get it over with. We want to get justice for our son. Waiting a year plus more to actually find out what happened to our son really bothers us,” said Rourke.
The family is raising money to build a memorial for Vanlandingham. For more information on how you can donate click here.
