On Monday, the man found guilty of killing four people and trying to kill eleven more at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce last summer was given four life sentences plus 220 years in prison without the chance of release.
After agreeing to a settlement where prosecutors dropped the death sentence, Travis Posey, 46, of New Edinburg, who is accused of shooting both inside the store and in the parking lot, filed a guilty plea last month.
The 90-minute hearing was dominated by testimonies from Posey’s victims and their relatives. They explained how they and the people of Fordyce had been devastated and scarred by his activities on June 21, 2024.
Before entering a guilty plea, neither the prosecution nor the defense ever explained Posey’s motivation, if any. The man who abducted their loved ones and left the town scarred was questioned by several of the fifteen persons who rose and spoke or who sent in written comments to be read aloud.
Among the lasting effects of Posey’s crimes, the victims spoke of unspeakable anguish, restless nights, and a generalized lack of safety in their day-to-day lives. According to some of the injured, their wounds are still healing. Another claimed that she grew so depressed that she needed to be admitted to the hospital.
In a written statement read aloud before the court, Shirley Kay Taylor’s daughter, Angela Atchley, who was one of the four people killed in the shooting, said that her mother always made sure we know we were loved without conditions.
That day, our lives were destroyed. Atchley wrote. Why won’t you explain, Mr. Posey? We are entitled to know.
As she took the stand, Kacey Harbour’s voice was trembling with anger. When Posey started shooting, she identified herself as the cashier working at register 4 at the Mad Butcher.
Harbour responded, “You’re a cesspool, not a man,” before likening him to scum and disease. She claimed that she was unable to forgive him and probably never would.
The mother of Callie Weems, one of the four people slain, Helen Browning-Grice, talked about her sorrow at losing her daughter, a nurse who lost her life attempting to save those hurt in the shooting, and the pain of having to explain to Weems’ infant daughter how her mother passed away.
Brown remarked, “I can’t forgive you right now,” but she also expressed her hope that Posey might find Jesus while he was imprisoned.
Roy Sturgis’ daughter Hanna claimed her father was a good worker who had always supported her. She claimed that when her father was shot and killed, he was purchasing steak for their usual Sunday steak supper at the Mad Butcher. According to his daughter, Roy Sturgis would no longer be able to see his daughter’s wedding or meet her permanent family.
According to Tate Shrum, Ellen Janie Shrum’s son, his mother was murdered by a guy she would have assisted if he had simply asked.
Ellen Janie Shrum’s granddaughter, Allysa Crutchfield, claimed she would never get to witness her biggest supporter’s jaw-dropping embraces as she graduated from college. Crutchfield claimed that Posey’s violent act had left Fordyce scarred.
Crutchfield stated, “I want you to realize the serious consequences of your violence.”
Posey Jacqueline Curb was only forgiven by one person.
“You shot me, even though I had time to ask you not to,” she added.
However, Curb claimed that she was able to forgive him due of her religion and belief in second chances.
During it all, Posey remained silent and unresponsive. He rarely looked up at the persons speaking to him; most of the time, he was expressionless and looked either straight ahead or down at his lap. Before Browning-Grice urged him to sit up, he slouched in his chair, but he did so.
He shook his head and replied, “No, sir,” when asked if he had anything to say after all of the victims and their families had had a chance to speak by 13th Circuit Judge Spencer Singleton.
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