Divers search Harris Co. pond for murder weapon

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Washington County Sheriff's Department was in northwest Harris County Wednesday to investigate the murder of a Houston man.

Divers from the Department of Public Safety were out most of the day searching a pond for the rifle used in a capital murder of Vincent Gourley, 46, of Houston. Divers were also looking for anything that may have been stolen during the crime.

Gourley was shot to death on February 27 at the hunting lodge where he commuted every week to work as a caretaker on the property.

Authorities have reason to believe one of the burglars dumped evidence from that crime in a pond on the secluded property in northwest Harris County. The crime scene is located in Chappell Hill in Washington County, Texas, near Brenham.

Investigators believe whoever was robbing the home on that property was not expecting Gourley to be there.

"Showed up inside the house and the caretaker apparently was awakened and surprised them, and that ended his life," said Michael Hahne of the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

The divers completed their search of one pond and plan to return to search a second pond on Thursday.

Anyone with information about this case are urged to call Washington Co. Crime Stoppers at 979-836-8477 or the Washington Co. Sheriff's Office at 979-277-6255. Information provided to Crime Stoppers that leads to an arrest of a suspect could receive a reward.

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local, katie mccall

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