Texas Oil Millionaire T. Cullen Davis, Accused in Infamous Mansion Murders of 12-Year-Old Girl, Dies at 93

Cullen Davis, the wealthy Texas oil millionaire once at the center of one of the most widely publicized murder trials in American history, has died at the age of 93. His death brings renewed attention to the shocking 1976 shootings at his sprawling Fort Worth mansion, where his estranged wife’s 12-year-old daughter and another man were killed. Despite facing murder and attempted murder charges, Davis was acquitted in both criminal cases and maintained his innocence throughout his life.

Davis died on Friday, November 6, 2026, at his home in Colleyville, Texas, according to his son, Trey Davis. Born into a wealthy oil family, he inherited substantial business interests from his father, Kenneth W. Davis, and eventually became one of the richest men in the country. His enormous fortune and lavish lifestyle made him a prominent figure in Fort Worth society long before the shootings that would make his name nationally known.

The tragedy unfolded on August 2, 1976, at Stonegate Mansion, a massive residence where Davis’ estranged wife, Priscilla, was living during their bitter divorce. A gunman dressed in black and reportedly wearing a woman’s black wig entered the property and opened fire. Priscilla’s 12-year-old daughter, Andrea Wilborn, and her boyfriend, 30-year-old Stan Farr, were killed. Priscilla and another visitor, Gus “Bubba” Gavrel Jr., were also shot but survived. Gavrel was left paralyzed from the waist down.

The surviving victims identified Davis as the gunman, leading to his arrest and a highly publicized capital murder trial in 1977. His defense was led by prominent attorney Richard “Racehorse” Haynes, and the proceedings attracted national attention. The first trial ended in a mistrial after juror misconduct, but a second trial resulted in Davis being acquitted of Andrea Wilborn’s murder. The verdict did not end the controversy surrounding the case, and many questions about the identity of the shooter remained part of its enduring public fascination.

Nine months after his acquittal, Davis faced another major legal battle. He was accused of soliciting the murders of 15 people, including Priscilla, the survivors of the mansion shooting and the judge overseeing his divorce. The allegations involved claims that he had attempted to hire someone to carry out the killings. However, Davis was acquitted in that case as well. He consistently denied involvement in the shootings and rejected the allegations against him.

Although Davis had once controlled an oil-based business empire reportedly valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, his fortune eventually collapsed during the oil industry downturn of the 1980s, and he later declared bankruptcy. The mansion murders continued to attract public interest through books, documentaries and the 1995 television miniseries Texas Justice. His death closes the life of a man whose name became inseparable from a notorious unsolved chapter in Texas criminal history, while the memories of Andrea Wilborn and the other victims remain central to the tragedy.

Source: PEOPLE