Man Accused of Murdering Spring, TX Family Will Face the Death Penalty

SPRING, TX — Prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case of a Utah man accused of the execution-style slaying of six members of a Spring family in 2014.

Roland Haskell, 36, of Utah, will stand trail in the fall of 2017 for the murders of Katie and Stephen Stay and four of their children Bryan, 13; Emily, 9; Rebecca 7; and Zach, 4. Another daughter, Cassidy, 15, was shot but survived.

On July 7, 2014, Haskell allegedly went to the Stay's home in a FedEx uniform. When Cassidy Stay, who was home alone, answered the door he allegedly pushed his way into the house.

He then bound Cassidy, hand and foot, and waited. Haskell allegedly captured and bound each member of the family as they came home.

During the ordeal he reportedly interrogated the family about the location of his ex-wife, Katie Stay's sister, who had left him after multiple instances of domestic violence.

Haskell allegedly shot each of the family members in the head. On July 9, 2014, when arraigned for the killings, Haskell collapsed in court.

Haskell is scheduled for trial in the fall of 2017, his attorneys have indicated that they plan to pursue an insanity defense.

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Image via Ken Piorkowski used under a Creative Commons license.