Anatomy of Murder – The Heart of Darkness (Mark Hasse, Mike and Cynthia McClelland)

Podcast: Anatomy of Murder
Hosts: Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi & Scott Weinberger
Guest: Bill Warski, First Assistant District Attorney, Collin County, Texas
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Episode Theme:
This gripping episode investigates a chilling series of targeted assassinations in Kaufman County, Texas, that shook the heart of the justice system in 2013. Through the murders of prosecutors Mark Hasse and Mike McClelland, and McClelland’s wife Cynthia, the episode explores themes of public trust, vengeance, fear, and systemic vulnerability—with an insider’s look at how law enforcement pursued a cunning and vengeful killer with roots in the very system he ultimately attacked.

Overview

• The episode examines the 2013 murders of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse and District Attorney Mike McClelland (along with his wife Cynthia) in Kaufman County, Texas.
• Unpacking the impact and complexity of these killings, the hosts and guest Bill Warski explore the investigation, suspects, and law enforcement’s eventual uncovering of Eric and Kim Williams—fellow legal professionals turned murder conspirators.
• The case is discussed as both a series of murders and an assault on the justice system, with recurring emphasis on the concept of “domestic terrorism.”

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Small-Town Texas Disrupted ([02:51]-[06:21])

• Kaufman County, Texas: A predominantly rural, close-knit community unaccustomed to violent crime, where “everyone knew each other and no one locked their doors.” ([06:21])
• Mark Hasse: A veteran, highly respected prosecutor, described by guest Bill Warski as “the little man with the big voice” and a mentor to others. ([05:47])
  • Quote (Bill Warski, [05:10]): “They were lucky to have Mark... He was a mentor to a lot of the younger prosecutors in the office.”

2. The Murder of Mark Hasse ([06:37]-[11:36])

• Attack Details: On January 31, 2013, as Hasse arrived at work, he was confronted by a masked gunman dressed in black and shot multiple times at close range. A bystander heard his last words: “I’m sorry.” ([07:41], [08:06])
  • Quote (Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, [08:06]): "Mark's last words sounded like, 'I'm sorry.' But the gunman had not responded with forgiveness or with mercy."
• Immediate Aftermath: Community and law enforcement shock; intense investigation with federal, state, and local involvement, but no immediate suspects.

3. Early Suspect Pool and Investigative Challenges ([11:49]-[16:42])

• Prosecution-related revenge considered most likely motive due to the personal and public nature of the attack.
• Speculation about the Aryan Brotherhood prison gang’s involvement, but evidence was “thin to non-existent.” ([14:16])
• Overwhelming number of leads and tips, with resources rapidly stretched.
  • Quote (Bill Warski, [16:06]): “It seemed like every aggrieved ex wife in Texas would call the tip line and throw her ex under the bus... Just running down tips was a full time job for 100+ law enforcement boots on the ground.”

4. Case Grows Cold—Then Explodes Again ([16:42]-[21:22])

• The investigation into Hasse’s murder stalls until a second attack occurs.
• Three months later, District Attorney Mike McClelland and his wife, Cynthia, are found murdered in their home, both killed with extreme violence using an AR-15 style rifle ([20:15]), Cynthia as collateral damage.
  • Quote (Bill Warski, [24:20]): “She was really collateral damage. She did not have to die.”

5. The Pattern Emerges—Domestic Terrorism ([22:23]-[28:18])

• Video surveillance identifies a white Crown Victoria near both crime scenes—commonly associated with law enforcement, linking both attacks ([22:35]).
• A chilling email sent via the anonymous Tor network claims responsibility for the murders and threatens more violence unless a judge steps down ([24:54]).
• The specificity in the email referencing a “.38 caliber” round, not publicly known, lends credibility to the threat ([25:25]).

6. Fear, Protection, and Law Enforcement Response ([29:13]-[31:59])

• Heightened anxiety among law enforcement, with more than 130 officers dedicating themselves to both investigation and the protection of potential future targets.
  • Quote (Bill Warski, [29:13]): “Everybody was terrified... everybody was wondering, the question that everybody was talking about is, who’s next?”
• Show of force described as turning Kaufman into “a third world country” with snipers and heavy tactical presence ([30:54]).

7. Turning Point—Connecting the Victims and Zeroing In ([32:20]-[35:09])

• Investigators look for the common thread among the victims; only one case brings both Hasse and McClelland together—prosecution of Eric Williams, a former local attorney and elected Justice of the Peace, recently convicted of felony theft ([33:37], [34:12]).
  • Quote (Bill Warski, [32:37]): “Mark and Mike had only tried one case together, and Eric Williams... he was the common denominator.”

The Investigation Tightens: The Williams Connection

8. Who is Eric Williams? ([36:03]-[37:33])

• Known as eccentric, often seen on a Segway in combat gear, regular at the gun range.
• Lost his position and law license after his conviction by Hasse and McClelland, giving possible motive for revenge.

9. Accumulating Evidence ([37:46]-[41:46])

• Williams had previously been cleared after Hasse’s murder, providing an alibi and passing a gunshot residue test.
• New evidence from LexisNexis searches ties Williams to surveillance of Hasse and his neighborhood ([37:46]).
• Police, upon visiting Williams’ house, find gun parts, a burner phone, and the title to a white Crown Victoria ([40:23]).
• A crucial post-it note reveals the password for the anonymous email threatening further killings, tying Williams directly to the threat ([41:08]).

10. The Tipping Point—Arrests and Confessions ([41:54]-[49:54])

• Eric Williams arrested for making a terroristic threat; storage unit found containing the white Crown Victoria, tactical gear, and multiple weapons ([43:11]).
• Kim Williams, Eric’s wife, is interviewed; she confesses to being the getaway driver in both crimes and describes their elaborate planning ([45:14]-[46:18]).
  • Quote (Bill Warski, [45:14]): “She finally confessed. And she told us what we knew was that Eric Williams was the trigger man... and she was the driver in both murders.”

11. The Final Evidence—Weapons and Kill Plans ([46:44]-[51:06])

• Kim Williams discloses disposal of the firearms—a dive team recovers two pistols and the killer’s mask from a local lake ([46:44]).
• She describes a “hit list” and the next (planned) murder: a grisly plan involving kidnapping, torture, and homemade napalm—all corroborated with evidence from Eric’s “go bag” ([51:06]).

Prosecution, Sentencing, and Reflection

12. Trials, Sentences, and Impact ([51:17]-[54:13])

• Kim Williams receives 40 years in prison for her cooperation ([51:34]).
• Eric Williams is sentenced to death; the jury finds him to be a future danger with no mitigating circumstances ([52:31]).
  • Quote (Bill Warski, [53:10]): “Mark and Mike were the first people to kind of get a true glimpse into who Eric Williams was. And they kind of pulled back his mask in that 2012 trial and saw him for the psychopath he was.”
• Reflection on the personal and communal loss, and the chilling reminder for those in public service about the very real risks of the job.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 03:22 | Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi | “Using violence to intimidate or disrupt the functioning of civil society, there’s a name for that. It’s called terrorism.” | | 05:47 | Bill Warski | “People used to call him the little man with the big voice… he commanded a courtroom.” | | 08:06 | Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi | “Mark's last words sounded like, 'I'm sorry.' But the gunman had not responded with forgiveness or with mercy.” | | 15:55 | Bill Warski | “This case was virtually unprecedented… just running down tips was a full time job for 100+ law enforcement boots on the ground.” | | 24:20 | Bill Warski | “If they were going to kill Mike McClelland, they could have found a way where Mike was by himself. Instead… Cynthia… was really collateral damage. She did not have to die.” | | 27:46 | Bill Warski | “It's a terrifying feeling. Who's next? … now you feel like you're up against the clock because more people are going to die in a very small, specific, very short time frame.” | | 29:13 | Bill Warski | “Everybody was terrified… everybody was wondering, the question that everybody was talking about is, who’s next?” | | 34:12 | Bill Warski | “[Williams] was being prosecuted for burglary and theft. And that prosecution was led personally by the DA, Mike McClellan and his basic first assistant who was Mark Hasse.” | | 45:14 | Bill Warski | “She finally confessed. And she told us what we knew was that Eric Williams was the trigger man… and she was the driver in both murders.” | | 53:10 | Bill Warski | “Mark and Mike were the first people to kind of get a true glimpse into who Eric Williams was. And they kind of pulled back his mask in that 2012 trial and saw him for the psychopath he was.” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• [02:51]-[06:21] – Introducing Kaufman County and Mark Hasse
• [06:37]-[11:36] – Details and aftermath of Mark Hasse’s murder
• [16:42]-[21:22] – Investigation slows, then the McClellands are found murdered
• [24:54]-[26:39] – Threatening email reveals connection and escalates fear
• [32:37]-[35:09] – Link between victims & introduction of Eric Williams
• [37:46]-[41:46] – Break in the case: LexisNexis, car, password, anonymous threats
• [41:54]-[43:40] – Arrests, storage unit search, critical physical evidence
• [45:14]-[46:18] – Kim Williams confession and motive revealed
• [46:44]-[51:06] – Weapons found, corroborated kill plan, “go bag” link
• [51:34]-[54:13] – Sentencing and reflection on justice, risk, and loss

Episode Tone and Final Thoughts

• The tone is one of gravity, urgency, and respect for the victims and the challenges faced by all those in public service.
• The hosts and guest emphasize not only the mechanics of the investigation but the emotional toll on colleagues, families, and the entire law enforcement community.
• Significant focus on the broader implications: the rare but real risk faced by those in the justice system and the importance of resilience and dedication.

Closing Reflection

“Mark Cassie, amazing prosecutor described as having the energy of two men, Mike and Cynthia McClelland. If Cynthia was all warmth and motherhood, it was said Mike was a warrior. They loved each other deeply. All three are gone from the lives of the many who loved them… Nothing to bring them back. The grief of their loss felt forever by family and friends… reminders that murder remains the ultimate cruelty.”
— Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi ([54:13])