Testimony was scheduled to open in Gilmer Wednesday (Feb. 14) in the murder trial of Michael Timothy Caffey, charged with the 2023 beating death of his father.
A 10-woman, 2-man jury was chosen Monday at the Gilmer Civic Center for the case in which Caffey, 46, of Gilmer, has pleaded not guilty to killing 66-year-old Timothy Allen Caffey last March 26.
The evidence portion of the trial is scheduled in 115th District Court at the Upshur County Justice Center in Gilmer, said Upshur County District Attorney Billy Byrd, who announced details of Monday’s jury selection. Gilmer attorney Matthew Patton represents the defendant.
The elder Caffey’s body was found March 27 outside his and his son’s home in the 2400 block of Airstrip Road in Latch community, said sheriff’s Chief Deputy David Hazel last year. Michael Caffey was arrested that day on an unrelated misdemeanor charge in Gregg County.
Upshur sheriff’s deputies “responded to a dead body call” at the Caffeys’ home in southwest Upshur County about 9:30 a.m. March 27, said Hazel. Members of a crew which had come to do a roofing job there found the body and contacted the sheriff’s office, he said.
Hazel said authorities believe Timothy Caffey had been dead no longer than 24 hours. In a news release at the time, he said “evidence at the scene clearly indicated” the man “was the victim of a homicide.”
The chief deputy gave these details of subsequent events:
After investigators learned the father and son lived together, the Upshur sheriff’s office sent a bulletin to northeast Texas area law enforcement agencies asking to be notified if Michael Caffey was located. In early afternoon, Gregg County deputies contacted Upshur County and reported having found him in a neighborhood near Liberty City.
Residents there had contacted the Gregg sheriff’s office due to Caffey “wandering the street and walking onto residential properties.” Gregg County also reported it had a warrant for his arrest on a class C misdemeanor charge of some sort.
Upshur County Sheriff Larry Webb and other Upshur personnel responded to the scene near Liberty City to talk to Caffey, and “while there, investigators located evidence linking Mr. Michael Caffey to the homicide.”
Caffey was taken to the Gregg County Jail in Longview on the misdemeanor warrant while Upshur investigators sought a warrant for his arrest on a murder charge. That warrant was obtained, and he was charged with the death.
He remains in the Upshur County Jail at Gilmer, Byrd’s office said Monday.
Upshur County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Lyle Potter pronounced the elder Caffey dead at the family home and ordered an autopsy performed at Forensic Medical Management Services outside Tyler.
– By Phillip Williams