In a shocking story in 2021, a missing woman was found hacked to death after police received tips about someone seeing a woman kept in a cage. Now the whole truth about the case is finally coming to light.
Keep reading to learn more.
James Phelps and Timothy Norton were charged with the murder of Cassidy Rainwater. Norton claimed he helped Phelps with the murder of 33-year-old Cassidy who he said allegedly ‘stole’ from them.
James Phelps accepted an Alford plea for the murder of Rainwater. An Alford plea is when a criminal defendant pleads guilty but maintains their innocence. Timothy Norton, the second man charged with the murder, has also accepted a plea deal. Both men received sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In exchange for accepting the plea deals, the Dallas County court judge agreed to drop the charges for first-degree kidnapping and abandonment of a corpse.
The last time 33-year-old Rainwater was seen alive was in July 2021. She was reported missing on August 25. According to reports Dallas County Sheriff’s Office spoke to Phelps immediately who had claimed she had been staying with him but left a month prior.
A few weeks later, the FBI received a tip about photos of a woman who was reported to be partially-clothed. She matched Rainwater’s description and was being kept in a cage on Phelp’s property. More photos of the property showed the remains being eviscerated and dismembered with the use of a gantry crane which is commonly used to process a deer carcass.
After an investigation, police found human flesh inside Phelps’ freezer marked simply 7/24, while they also found skeletal remains on an adjoining property. After DNA testing, it was found all remains had belonged to Rainwater. ‘
Officials also found images of Rainwater bound to the crane in Phelps phone as well as text messages between Phelps and Norton detailing their plans of her murder.
According to reports, Norton confessed to the murder and “told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping told FBI agents that Phelps had him come over while Cassidy was sleeping [on] the living room floor, so he had easy access to attack Cassidy.”
“Norton stated, after entering the house, he held Cassidy’s legs down while Phelps strangled her and placed a bag over her head,” the statement continued. He told the local news station after his court appearance that things “just kind of happened,” and the whole situation “went sideways.”
“The next thing I know, he was choking her, and things were going sideways,” Norton said. “If you looked into his eyes, that would have been the last thing you know I wanted to do was cross him at that point in time. I know he’s got a temper.”
According to his initial statement he said, “he and Phelps took a short break before carrying her body outside.” Adding, they then used the gantry, saying, according to the statement, “Phelps bound her” to it and “began evisceration and dismemberment of Cassidy’s body.” Norton said he then helped Phelps to carry the body inside his home and place it in the bathtub.
After his Tuesday court appearance, he said he knew he deserved to die because of what he did. Norton said, “I deserve to die, and I am ready for that. It’s not right to take life. Everybody harps me. You know, I’m a monster of a monster monster.”
He shared how he felt about the entire thing. “Maybe later tonight I’ll– when I go to sleep, I’ll cry,” he said.
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This entire story is so horrifying. We send our condolences to the loved ones of Cassidy Rainwater as they deal with the horrific details of her murder. Keep them in your thoughts.
