Tragic Discovery in Texas: Family Murdered and Hidden for Months

A Texas man on probation is accused of murdering his wife and daughter, hiding their bodies in their abandoned home for months, and then fleeing.

• Robert Morairity, a 45-year-old Texas convict on probation, allegedly killed his wife and 11-year-old daughter.
• The bodies were hidden in the garage of their abandoned rural home in Decatur, Texas.
• The family was not reported missing until Kimberly Kellam's brother-in-law alerted the Wise County Sheriff's Office.
• Morairity was found living in a Dallas hotel with his two other children.
• He was arrested and charged with murder, capital murder of a person older than 10 but younger than 15, and tampering with physical evidence.

The Wise County Sheriff's Office was alerted to the situation by Kimberly Kellam's brother-in-law, who hadn't seen or heard from Kellam or her eldest daughter in months. When deputies checked the family's home, they found it to be abandoned. The daughter's school confirmed that she hadn't been enrolled since 2022.

"I wish they would've called us earlier, but they neglected to do that," Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin said. "They were all scared to death of this guy. They were afraid to say anything."

Unraveling the Grisly Scene

Upon further investigation, law enforcement tracked down Morairity to a Dallas hotel where he was living with his two other children. Initially, Morairity claimed ignorance about his wife and daughter's whereabouts. However, he later confessed that their bodies were in his garage.

According to Sheriff Akin, the victims had been there for "probably 5 [or] 6 months." They were covered and stowed away in the garage, but it wasn’t hard to find them. The exact motive and cause of death remain unknown.

"We don’t know exactly what the motive was, exactly how they were killed, but we know it was at his hand," Akin said.

Background of the Accused

At the time of the alleged murders, Morairity was on probation after pleading guilty to two counts of abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence in 2019. His probation ended on March 29, 2023.

Following his confession, Morairity led deputies and a Texas Ranger to the bodies. He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder, capital murder of a person older than 10 but younger than 15, and tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair a human corpse.

Understanding the Impact of Domestic Violence

• Domestic violence is a pervasive issue that affects millions of individuals and families worldwide.
• It often goes unreported due to fear, shame, or a lack of awareness about available resources.
• Victims may feel trapped or scared to leave their abusers, as was suggested in this case by Sheriff Akin.

Reflections on the Tragedy

As we grapple with the horror of this case, it's important to remember the words of Abraham Lincoln: "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."