Police: Dallas man admits to murdering, burying neighbor in own backyard
A man who allegedly stole the identity of his dead neighbor, then sold his home now faces a murder charge for his death.
Christopher Brian Colbert, 43, admitted to the murder in an interview with Dallas police detectives. Colbert was interviewed in detention in California awaiting extradition back to Dallas.
Dallas police said Colbert made more than $100,000 dollars from selling his dead neighbor’s home on Winnetka Avenue last June.
A few months later, renovators discovered the remains of the actual owner -- 57-year-old Ronald Shumway -- in the home's backyard.
Colbert was originally only charged with identity fraud. But in the interview with police he told police he killed Shumway in self-defense after the two got in a fight after drinking. Colbert said he choked Shumway to death, then decided to dispose of the body in Shumway’s backyard.
Colbert said no one helped him pour the cement that wound up encasing Shumway’s body.
Colbert also said he might have tied up Shumway, but that he couldn’t remember because he “blacked out from fear and shock.” Autopsy evidence showed Shumway was found with his hand feet bound with neck ties.
The murder charge has been added to the other fraud charges. Colbert’s bond is $150,000.