John Clinton

On July 20, 2021, the body of John Clinton, an 18-year-old White man from Jacksonville, Texas, was found in the driveway of a rural home near New Summerfield. Inside the residence, investigators discovered three other victims who had also been shot to death: Jeff Gerla, 47; Amanda Bain, 39; and Ami Hickey, 39, who was John Clinton's mother. The discovery launched a quadruple homicide investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators learned that the killings were the result of a robbery plot that began with a handgun Clinton wanted to sell for $500. An acquaintance, 20-year-old Jesse Pawlowski, knew about the gun and had previously visited the home where Clinton and Gerla lived. Pawlowski conspired with Billy Phillips, 37, and Dylan Welch, 21, to steal the weapon. On the evening of July 19, Pawlowski was at the residence and texted Phillips to come over to commit the robbery.

When Phillips and Welch arrived, Pawlowski and Clinton walked to the end of the driveway to meet them. According to Pawlowski’s later confession, Phillips took the handgun from Clinton and then shot him in the back of the head. The three men then went inside the home, where Phillips shot Gerla, Bain, and Hickey. Before fleeing, the men stole two shotguns. Pawlowski told authorities that he returned to Clinton’s body, took the key fob for a 2017 Dodge Challenger from his pocket, and stole the vehicle.

The investigation quickly led to the three suspects. Pawlowski, Phillips, and Welch were arrested the same day the bodies were found and were each charged with capital murder. All three were held in the Cherokee County Jail on $1 million bonds. Pawlowski confessed to his role in the crime, providing details that investigators said were consistent with evidence from the scene. Phillips, however, denied being present or having any involvement in the murders.

In February 2023, the Cherokee County District Attorney’s Office announced it would not seek the death penalty against Dylan Welch, who agreed to testify against his co-defendants. Later, Jesse Pawlowski pleaded guilty to capital murder in the 2nd District Court. In exchange for his plea, which spared him a potential death sentence, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The case against the alleged shooter, Billy Phillips, is still pending. As of an April 2023 court hearing, attorneys agreed to have DNA evidence re-tested, and a trial date had not yet been set.