Mineral Wells Area News

MINERAL WELLS, Texas – Two Mineral Wells men, initially charged in connection with a 2022 altercation that resulted in the death of a unhoused man outside a local Whataburger, have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of criminally negligent homicide, according to Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley.

Incident and Initial Charges

On December 18, 2022, an altercation occurred in the parking lot of a Whataburger in Mineral Wells, involving 60-year-old Douglas Warren and two local men—then 30-year-old Ryan Tanner Woodring and then 31-year-old Ryan Cyle Hill.

According to police reports, officers arrived to find Warren unconscious and bleeding from the head. Witness videos reviewed by police reportedly showed Hill and Warren engaged in a physical confrontation before Woodring exited the restaurant and struck Warren, causing him to fall. Hill then allegedly kicked Warren while he was on the ground and unresponsive. Warren later died from his injuries on December 27, 2022.

Following the incident:

• Hill was charged with aggravated assault causing bodily injury and was released on a $75,000 bond.

• Woodring was charged with assault causing bodily harm and was released on a $5,000 bond.

Upgraded Charges

After the Tarrant County Medical Examiner ruled Warren’s death a homicide on December 29, 2022, the case remained under review. Nearly a year later, on December 28, 2023, both Hill and Woodring were rebooked into the Palo Pinto County Jail and charged with murder.

Court records show their bonds were set at $100,000 each, through A 1st Class Bail Bonds. Both men bonded out shortly after their rebooking.

Guilty Pleas to Lesser Charge

The case came to some resolve this month when both defendants pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide in Palo Pinto County District Court.

Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley’s office was appointed as attorney pro tem after Palo Pinto County District Attorney Kriste Burnett recused herself due to a conflict of interest.

“Yes, the two defendants pled guilty. The court will set these cases for punishment,” Wiley stated. “I cannot make a comment about the cases at this time because the matters are still pending before the court. At the conclusion of the cases, our office will prepare a press release, which we will share with your office.”

Legal Definitions and Potential Sentences

Under Texas law, homicide charges vary by degree of intent and recklessness:

• Murder involves intentionally or knowingly causing the death of another person, classified as a first-degree felony punishable by 5 to 99 years or life in prison.

• Manslaughter involves recklessly causing the death of another person, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.

• Criminally Negligent Homicide involves causing death through criminal negligence, a state jail felony punishable by 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility and a fine of up to $10,000.

Prosecution and Sentencing

Lead prosecutor Marc Moffitt declined to comment on the reasons for offering the lesser charge, citing the pending sentencing phase. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled, according to the 29th District Court in Palo Pinto County.

Further details are expected to be released following the sentencing.