Texas Governor's Office Offers $15K Reward Leading To Arrest Of Sheriff Deputy's Killer

AUSTIN, TX -- The governor's office on Tuesday offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of whoever fatally shot a Travis County Sheriff's Office deputy on Monday, bringing the total reward to $30,000.

Texas Crime Stoppers, operating within the Office of the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, announced a cash reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Travis County Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Craig Hutchinson.

The 54-year-old officer was killed in the early morning hours on Monday after he went to the backyard of his Round Rock home after detecting intruders.

Hutchinson had called for backup, but officers found him dead of a gunshot wound upon arrival. TCSO and the Round Rock Police Department are currently following up on leads, but no suspect has been identified as yet.

The added reward money is being offered through the Officer of the Governor's Fallen Hero Reward - Texas Remembers program launched in January 2016.

“My deepest condolences go out to the Hutchinson family during this unimaginably difficult time,” Gov. Greg Abbott said in a prepared statement. “The past few weeks have highlighted the incredible dangers our law enforcement officers face both on and off duty, and we must never forget the sacrifices they make in order to keep us safe. At this time, it is imperative that the authorities receive any and all information that will aid in bringing swift justice for Sergeant Hutchinson.”

The $15,000 reward from his office is in addition to a $10,000 reward offered by the U.S. Marshals Service and a $5,000 award offered by Lakeway municipal Judge Kevin Madison.

The Texas Crime Stoppers is a program within the governor's office operating under the Criminal Justice Division that encourages, supports and fosters the development of local crime stoppers organizations as a way to prevent crime.
Those with any information leading to an arrest can submit tips anonymously in a number of ways:

• By calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477);
• Texting the letter DPS - followed by the tip - to 274637 (CRIMES) from a cell phone;
• Submitting a web tip by clicking the link here (also available in the "About" section of the Texas 10 Most Wanted Facebook page under "Submit a Tip")