LONGVIEW, Texas — A Longview man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing a White Oak man over $35 in 2021.
Brandon Allen Gilliam pleaded guilty to murder in connection with the death of Steve McDowell, 66, of White Oak, on May 3, 2021. He was then sentenced to 20 years in prison, according to judicial records.
Gilliam was arrested along with Regina Massie, 40, in 2021 for murder. On May 6, she entered a guilty plea and is set to be sentenced on June 5, records show.
On May 4, 2021, McDowell was found lying on his left side on the bed in the “master bedroom” with a head injury inside his trailer in the 2000 block of North White Oak Road in White Oak, according to an arrest affidavit.
McDowell told friends that Massie and Gilliam had stolen money and scratch-off lottery tickets from his truck, the affidavit read. Massie said in an interview she heard McDowell confront Gilliam about stolen money inside the trailer on May 3.
There was a loud argument and movement while she was standing outside of the trailer. Gilliam then called Massie inside the trailer, the affidavit said.
The affidavit stated Massie saw Gilliam hit McDowell in the head with a rod or pipe. She said she saw Gilliam cover McDowell’s mouth and nose with one hand while trying to stop McDowell's defensive movements until he stopped moving.
Massie told the sheriff's office Gilliam asked her to help move the body but she refused. She said she saw Gilliam try to clean up the scene, the affidavit said.
According to the document, Gilliam took guns and ammunition from the house and put them into McDowell’s truck. Gilliam and Massie drove the truck back to their home. Massie said Gilliam threatened to hurt her if she told anyone.
“Massie advised that Gilliam admitted to her that McDowell should not have died over $35,” the documents said.
McDowell’s stolen truck was found on May 5 by Smith County deputies fully engulfed in flames.