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Widow says botched Odessa police probe factor in her husband's killer's case

Widow blames the now disbanded Odessa Police
Posted at 5:59 PM, Sep 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-30 22:13:37-04

A widow claims a botched police investigation helped lead to a plea deal for her husband's killer.

Travis Graham shot and killed Randy Dyer in Odessa in June 2015.

"I am literally consumed with all this, it consumes every moment of every single day," said Pam Dyer's Randy's widow.

According to court records the 41 Action News Investigators exclusively obtained, Graham fired shots at the couple's son Brandon and at Jonathan Colt Moore over a property dispute.

Those records show Brandon fired a bow and arrow at Graham and Moore threw a brick at Graham, hitting him in the face.

The records also state Randy Dyer drove up to the scene to intervene and his son and Moore ran off.

Graham then shot and killed Randy Dyer.

An autopsy revealed Dyer was shot in the back of the head.

"He was trying to save the life of my son and my son's friend," Pam Dyer said.

The 41 Action News Investigators obtained an Odessa Police Department memo to Odessa City Administrator Mickey Ary regarding a meeting with the Lafayette County Prosecutor.

The memo states the prosecutor said an Odessa Police officer failed to conduct follow up interviews with key witnesses in the Dyer homicide even though those witnesses were available and agreed to help with the investigation.

A short time later, the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office took over the investigation.

Since that time, the Odessa Police Department was disbanded in August due to a series of issues.

Previous story: City of Odessa votes to disband city police department 

Graham was originally charged with second degree murder.

A conviction on that charge would've carried a sentence of 10-30 years or life in prison.

Instead, Graham agreed to plead guilty voluntary manslaughter.

That plea carries a sentencing range of 5 to 15 years.

The 41 Action News Investigators reached out to the Lafayette County Prosecutor who declined to comment due to Graham's pending sentencing.

Graham's attorney also declined comment for the same reason.

Pam Dyer believes Graham's plea agreement doesn't fit the crime.

She blames the Odessa Police Department's handling of the case.

"He could be out in no time at all, but my husband was sentenced to death," she said.

Dyer and Colt Moore were both charged with felonies related to the fatal shooting incident.

Dyer is in jail awaiting trial.

The case against Moore was dropped.

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Andy Alcock can be reached at anderson.alcock@kshb.com.

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