Steven Alan Thomas, the man charged in connection with the 1980 sexual assault and strangulation of 73-year-old Mildred McKinney, made his first court appearance today in Williamson County.
Thomas, who doesn’t have a lawyer yet, told Williamson County District Judge Billy Ray Stubblefield he was in the process of hiring an attorney. Thomas’ next hearing is at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 1 in Stubblefield’s court.
During the brief hearing Thomas, 53, spoke in a calm, firm voice.
Investigators charged Thomas with capital murder in July after receiving results from a DNA test. The testing was ordered by a federal court in a separate case where Thomas is facing drug possession charges.
The test results showed Thomas’ DNA on a ligature used to restrain McKinney in her southwestern Williamson County home in November 1980, according to the Williamson County Sheriff’s office.
Investigators also found a fingerprint at the scene that matched Thomas, according to an arrest affidavit. Thomas has denied knowing McKinney or sexually assaulting and killing her, according to the sheriff’s office.