'What Have You Done?' Texas Mom Makes Gruesome Discovery Behind Son's RV
When Sandra Ozment noticed her adult son, Richard Tanner Ozment, acting strangely outside the RV parked near their home in China Spring, Texas, her concern quickly grew. Richard, recently paroled after serving just 10 years of a 40-year prison sentence, had a troubling history of crime and violence. Still, nothing could have prepared her for the horrifying discovery she was about to make.
A Mother's Instinct
On the morning of Sept. 21, 2024, Sandra noticed her 36-year-old son standing outside his RV, agitated and visibly sweating. Concerned, she approached the RV, but he stepped in her path. Sandra's suspicion grew, and after pushing past him, she discovered a human foot lying near the RV.
Behind the RV, Sandra found Michaela Brooker, 38, badly injured and clinging to life, having suffered extensive head wounds from a machete and concrete block. "What have you done?" Sandra asked, according to the New York Post. Richard told her that Brooker had tried to stab him.
Panicked, Sandra ran back to the house where she locked herself inside and informed her husband, who called 911 while their son desperately pleaded them to stop.
From Murder to Manhunt
When first responders arrived, they found Brooker severely injured but still alive. She was airlifted to the hospital, where she later succumbed to her wounds. McLellan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara described the incident as "one of the most horrific, brutal, and senseless attacks" he had seen in years, according to PEOPLE.
Richard allegedly fled the scene, triggering a massive, multi-agency manhunt involving helicopters, tracking dogs, and deputies on horseback. Richard was found nearly 10 hours later hiding in a stock tank submerged in water about 100 yards away from the crime scene. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, with bond set at $1 million.
Richard's Troubled Past Comes to Light
The brutal murder shocked many, but Richard's extensive criminal history suggested a pattern of violence. His record includes a juvenile conviction for aggravated sexual assault at 16, a felony terroristic threat charge at 19, and a 40-year sentence for burglary in 2015. Despite the lengthy sentence and history of charges, Richard was paroled after just 10 years.
"(The crime) never should have happened," McNamara said, according to the New York Post. "He never should have gotten out, but he did."
Who Was Michaela Brooker?
Michaela Brooker was a mother whose life was tragically cut short. While details of her relationship with Richard remain unclear, authorities confirmed they knew each other. Brooker's death has left her young son without a mother. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support her child, with loved ones describing Brooker as a "cherished mother" and victim of a "senseless act of violence," according to PEOPLE.
The Search for Clarity
Authorities are still piecing together the events leading up to Brooker's death. While the machete allegedly used in the attack has been recovered, the motive for the violence remains unclear. Sheriff McNamara noted that Richard's parents have been fully cooperative with the investigation.
As Richard awaits his court date, the tragedy raises troubling questions about the parole system and the missed opportunities to prevent such a horrific crime. For now, a community mourns the loss of a mother while grappling with the senseless brutality of her death.
References: Mom noticed her adult son looked 'very sweaty' – then found he had dying woman hidden in his RV | Texas Man Accused of Fatally Attacking Woman with Machete, Concrete Block Was Paroled Months Earlier
