AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking information on the 2001 murder of 46-year-old James Charles “Jimmy” Schuessler. The reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for his death is now increased to $6,000 if the tip is received before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced. Anyone with information in this case is asked to please come forward.
On Oct. 14, 2001, Jimmy Schuessler’s body was found dead at his ranch house along SH-29 in rural Mason Co. He had suffered a head injury and a laceration to the head. The married father of two was last seen alive the previous evening. Investigators believe someone met Schuessler at the residence later that night, then an argument and altercation occurred. Schuessler was a farmer, rancher, avid hunter and a local business owner who was well-known in the Mason community.
Schuessler’s case is actively being investigated by the Texas Rangers, and as technology has advanced in the time since his death, evidence has been retested and submitted for analysis. Several witnesses have been interviewed and provided information over the years, but no arrests have been made. The Texas Rangers, local law enforcement and the community have not given up hope of finding out what happened to Schuessler nearly 25 years ago.
Funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office, Texas Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for any Texas Rangers cold case listed on the DPS website—which provides information on more than 140 cases in an effort to garner public interest in unsolved or cold cases.
To be eligible for cash rewards for this case, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of these two methods:
- Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
- Submit a tip online through this link only and select “Cold Cases Featured” and “Cold Case” in the type of crime and offense type sections.
As part of a DPS public awareness program, one case from the Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation (Cold Case) Program will be featured bi-monthly to generate new investigative leads and bring attention to these cold cases. Texas Crime Stoppers rewards are increased up to $6,000 for featured cases in hopes of generating additional tips. The higher reward amount will only be paid if the tip is submitted before the next cold case is featured.
The Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program was created to assist Texas law enforcement agencies in investigating unsolved homicides or violent serial crimes. Since there is no statute of limitations for the offense of murder, investigators pursue these cases to a successful resolution or until no viable leads remain.
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