T. Cullen Davis
Thomas Cullen Davis | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 22, 1933 |
| Occupation | Oil magnate |
| Known for | Acquittal in two high-profile murder-related trials in the 1970s |
Thomas Cullen Davis (born September 22, 1933) is a former American oil magnate who gained notoriety in the 1970s after being acquitted in two widely publicized murder-related trials. At the time of his initial trial, Davis was regarded as the wealthiest individual in the United States to face charges of murder.
His first accusation involved the killing of his 12-year-old stepdaughter on August 2, 1976, during a bitter divorce from his second spouse, Priscilla Davis. He was found not guilty. Two years later, Davis was charged with attempting to hire a contract killer targeting both Priscilla and the judge presiding over their divorce, but he was acquitted once more.
Early life and first trial
Thomas Cullen Davis was the middle son of Kenneth W. "Stinky" Davis, a Fort Worth oil entrepreneur who established KenDavis Industries International, Inc., a company specializing in petroleum manufacturing. After their father passed away in 1968, Davis and his siblings inherited equal portions of the estate and were recognized for their strong business capabilities.
Within Fort Worth's social circles, Cullen Davis developed a reputation for a volatile temperament and an unsettling presence among women he encountered.
His first marriage to Sandra Masters in 1962 resulted in two sons. In 1968, soon after his father's death, he wed Priscilla Lee Childers, who brought three children from previous marriages into the family, including stepdaughter Andrea Wilborn.
In 1972, Davis allocated $6 million to build Stonegate Mansion—a lavish home featuring five bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, an indoor swimming pool, and extensive art collections—demonstrating his considerable wealth.
By 1974, Davis and Childers had separated; during their divorce proceedings, Priscilla was awarded residency at Stonegate along with substantial spousal and child support payments from Davis. Her live-in companion was Stan Farr, a former Texas Christian University basketball standout.
On August 2, 1976, Andrea Wilborn was shot and killed at Stonegate while alone in the residence. Both Childers and Farr were also shot; Farr died at the scene. Childers managed to escape while being pursued by the assailant. Soon after, family friends Beverly Bass and Gus Gavrel Jr. arrived; Gavrel was shot and left paralyzed.
Childers identified Davis as the gunman, stating he wore only a wig as a disguise. Gavrel corroborated this identification when Bass addressed him by name. Police apprehended Davis that same night at the home he shared with then-girlfriend Karen Master (who later became his third wife). At trial, his fortune was estimated at over $100 million.
Davis stood trial solely for Andrea’s murder and was defended by renowned Texas lawyer Richard "Racehorse" Haynes. The prosecution’s case largely depended on eyewitness accounts. Earlier that day, a judge had increased Davis's monthly support payments to Priscilla and ordered additional payments covering legal fees and household expenses—implying a financial incentive.
Davis chose not to testify. Haynes highlighted the lack of physical evidence linking Davis to the crime scene—no fingerprints or weapon—and vigorously questioned the reliability of eyewitnesses, especially Priscilla. He portrayed her as straddling both elite society and criminal elements while relying heavily on prescription pain medication that could compromise her credibility.
According to journalist Gary Cartwright, Haynes’s rigorous cross-examination of Priscilla effectively secured an early advantage for the defense during the three-month-long trial. Ultimately, Davis was acquitted. Prosecutor Tim Curry conceded that they had been "out-bought and out-thought."
Additional Legal Proceedings
Following Wilborn's passing, Davis was cleared of liability in the associated civil lawsuit. Nonetheless, the children of Stan Farr subsequently initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against Davis, which was resolved through a $250,000 settlement outside of court.
In 1978, Davis faced arrest on charges of allegedly contracting a hitman to kill both Priscilla Davis and the judge presiding over their divorce case. The prosecution's argument hinged on a covertly recorded conversation between Davis and an undercover operative impersonating a hitman, captured in the parking lot of Coco's Famous Hamburgers, where Davis was taken into custody. The trial, known as Texas v. Cullen T. Davis, was notable as one of the earliest instances in the United States to incorporate forensic discourse analysis on audio evidence.
An expert in discourse analysis testified that Davis’s statements did not amount to solicitation of murder. Defense counsel Haynes disputed the prosecution’s physical proof, pointing out the absence of Davis’s fingerprints on critical items such as the cash purportedly handed to the undercover agent. Unlike his initial trial, Davis took the stand himself, denying any solicitation and alleging that Priscilla had orchestrated a setup against him. He claimed his cooperation was aimed at uncovering her role.
Public sentiment was split during the proceedings, with many anticipating a deadlocked jury. After an extensive trial, Davis was once again found not guilty.
Given its historical importance, Tarrant County preserved the original paper court records from this case as archival material despite the availability of digital copies.
Subsequent Years
On June 5, 1979, Davis wed Karen Master in Fort Worth and became the adoptive father to her two sons. The economic downturn of the 1980s severely diminished his oil wealth, ultimately leading him to file for bankruptcy. In 1984, Cullen and Karen sold their residence along with a 300-acre tract to a real estate developer. Davis has continued to reside in the Fort Worth vicinity. Karen Davis passed away due to organ failure on September 22, 2016. Later in life, Davis embraced born-again Christianity and at one stage collaborated with televangelist James Robison.
Priscilla Lee Childers succumbed to breast cancer at age 59 on February 19, 2001, consistently maintaining her conviction of Davis’s culpability.
Representation in Literature and Media
The case has been explored in multiple publications:
- Blood Will Tell: The Murder Trials of T. Cullen Davis by Gary Cartwright (1979)
- Texas Justice by Gary Cartwright
- Texas vs. Davis authored by Mike Cochran
- Final Justice: The True Story of the Richest Man Ever Tried for Murder by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith (1994)
- A chapter featured in Creating Language Crimes by linguistics scholar Roger Shuy, who served as defense witness
Television adaptations include:
- The 1995 TV film Texas Justice, featuring Peter Strauss and Heather Locklear
- TruTV’s Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege and Justice episode titled Oil, Money, and Mystery
- A&E’s episode "Oil, Money, and Murder" from American Justice
- Investigation Discovery’s Behind Mansion Walls, season one, episode six
- CBS’s 48 Hours installment named "Murder in the Mansion"