MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (KXXV) — A McLennan County jury sentenced a China Spring man to life in prison for the September 2024 murder of Michaela Brooker.
- Richard Ozment admitted to killing Brooker and using a machete
- Ozment is set to be charged today for the murder of Brooker.
- "If I didn't do it, she would be sitting here and I wouldn't," said Ozment
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
A McLennan County jury sentenced Richard Ozment to life in prison after finding him guilty Wednesday afternoon for the September 2024 death of 38-year-old Michaela Brooker. This comes after he took the stand Wednesday in his own defense and admitted to killing her.
"I didn't like what I did," he testified. "If I didn't do it, she would be sitting here and I wouldn't. I felt like I did what I had to from the extent of her actions."
Brooker used a machete, a concrete block and other items in the murder. In a 2024 interview with 25 News, McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara described the killing as "horrific."
Ozment claimed on the morning of the murder, Brooker held a knife to his throat, poured alcohol on him and was planning to set him on fire with a torch. Later during a fight outside his camper, he said she tried to hit him with a machete, but he knocked it from her hand and hit her several times. He added Brooker continued attacking him with an aluminum pipe.
He also admitted he used methamphetamine the night before, but told the jury he was sober the day he killed Brooker. He testified he ultimately killed her with a concrete brick because he was afraid she would kill him and harm his family.
Ozment originally ran from the scene but was found hours later around 300 yards from his camper in a nearby pond. According to prosecutors, Ozment pleaded with his mother not to call police before he left the scene.
The family declined to talk on camera, but are planning to issue a statement. We will bring it to you as soon as it becomes available.
