Trial in gay Dallas man's murder set for Jan. 24, but DA's office warns that's 'subject to change'

Seth Winder

We received a message Monday from Karen Winder, the stepmother of Seth Winder, who’s awaiting trial on a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Richard Hernandez, a gay man from Dallas who was brutally dismembered in September 2008.
Karen Winder, who wrote a book about the case, was wondering if we’d heard whether the trial — which has been repeatedly delayed for a variety of reasons — is expected to go forward as scheduled on Jan. 24.
“The prosector has never responded to me and [defense attorney Derek] Adame won’t talk to Rodney [Seth’s father] or me and we have tried to contact him by phone and e-mail in the past,” Karen Winder wrote. “I could try to call his office again, but I doubt he will talk to us, though he talks to Seth’s mother.”
In response to Winder’s message, we contacted Jamie Beck, first assistant district attorney for Denton County, where the crime occurred. Here’s what Beck said:
“It is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 24, that week. Voir dire would probably be most of the day Monday, with testimony likely to begin Tuesday the 25th,” Beck said. “We are prepared to have that as an official trial date. However, those are always subject to change, and the reason why I have a little bit of hesitation this time, is because we’re able to access the visitation log at the jail, and his attorney has not been to see him in quite some time. That doesn’t necessarily mean anything — they can communicate in other fashions — but we’re just a little skeptical about his readiness for trial here in just a couple of weeks. But, we’re planning to go. There’s been no motion for a continuance filed at this point in time, and certainly none ruled on. So as of right now, it is a solid trial date. That’s always subject to change, and that’s the best I can give you right now.”
We’ve left a message for Adame and we’ll update once we hear back.

4 Comments

Hardy Haberman on January 4, 2011 at 3:53 pm

To add to the controversy of this case, the book written by Karen Winder is in limbo. Her publisher, “Publish America” apparently is in a dispute with her and her co-author husband. She lists a complain on a web bulletin board for consumer complaints. When I tried to find the book online, all sources like Borders and Amazon say the book is on back order or temporarily unavailable.
She claims the publisher has taken advantage of her and is holding up publication. Interesting.

D on January 4, 2011 at 10:04 pm

Karen Winder probably isn’t getting any response from the
attorney or courts because everyone knows she has no business with
any of it. This book is a joke! She has only met Seth
in passing a couple of times and married his father well after his
incarceration. Seth’s family offered no support for the book
when asked by Karen so basically she has NO knowledge of the case
other than what she has heard on TV. Why she is so engaged in
all of this is a mystery to everyone.

RW on January 7, 2011 at 9:05 am

@D You need to get your facts straight, Karen has been involved in Seth’s well being for the last four years. She has helped and tried to get help for him. It was my idea to write the book and I ask her to coauthor. There was equal input. The book is not a joke, it is real, it is for sale and it is available. It is factual and true. Maybe if you would read it you could see. My daughters were not thrilled when I told them I was writing the book and their mother was beside herself. I’m not sure why, when the whole point of the book is to highlight mental illness in a case for reforming the laws. Maybe you shouldn’t be writing about things you have no understanding of. I am the one who engaged her.

Cyndee Davis on January 8, 2011 at 1:21 pm

I had no problem getting the book, and have read it. I found it to be a compassionate description of all parties involved. My heart broke for the victim and his family, and for Seth and his family. Surprised at the post from “D” that the author had no first-hand knowledge of the case, since she writes about her involvement from before the time of the disappearance of the victim. At any rate, the anguish described by the author and her co-author husband is heart-rending. The appeal for advocacy for the mentally ill is irrefutable, and is an important contribution to the work being done to improve options available to those with mental illness in this country. I appreciated the book and am glad to have it in my library.

Hardy Haberman on January 4, 2011 at 3:53 pm

To add to the controversy of this case, the book written by Karen Winder is in limbo. Her publisher, “Publish America” apparently is in a dispute with her and her co-author husband. She lists a complain on a web bulletin board for consumer complaints. When I tried to find the book online, all sources like Borders and Amazon say the book is on back order or temporarily unavailable.
She claims the publisher has taken advantage of her and is holding up publication. Interesting.
D on January 4, 2011 at 10:04 pm

Karen Winder probably isn’t getting any response from the
attorney or courts because everyone knows she has no business with
any of it. This book is a joke! She has only met Seth
in passing a couple of times and married his father well after his
incarceration. Seth’s family offered no support for the book
when asked by Karen so basically she has NO knowledge of the case
other than what she has heard on TV. Why she is so engaged in
all of this is a mystery to everyone.
RW on January 7, 2011 at 9:05 am

@D You need to get your facts straight, Karen has been involved in Seth’s well being for the last four years. She has helped and tried to get help for him. It was my idea to write the book and I ask her to coauthor. There was equal input. The book is not a joke, it is real, it is for sale and it is available. It is factual and true. Maybe if you would read it you could see. My daughters were not thrilled when I told them I was writing the book and their mother was beside herself. I’m not sure why, when the whole point of the book is to highlight mental illness in a case for reforming the laws. Maybe you shouldn’t be writing about things you have no understanding of. I am the one who engaged her.
Cyndee Davis on January 8, 2011 at 1:21 pm

I had no problem getting the book, and have read it. I found it to be a compassionate description of all parties involved. My heart broke for the victim and his family, and for Seth and his family. Surprised at the post from “D” that the author had no first-hand knowledge of the case, since she writes about her involvement from before the time of the disappearance of the victim. At any rate, the anguish described by the author and her co-author husband is heart-rending. The appeal for advocacy for the mentally ill is irrefutable, and is an important contribution to the work being done to improve options available to those with mental illness in this country. I appreciated the book and am glad to have it in my library.