Texas Rangers Offer $6,000 Reward in 2001 Mason County Murder Cold Case
AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking for the public’s help in solving the 2001 murder of 46-year-old James Charles “Jimmy” Schuessler. The reward for information leading to an arrest has been increased to $6,000 if the tip is received before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced.
On October 14, 2001, Schuessler’s body was discovered at his ranch house along SH-29 in rural Mason County. He had suffered a head injury and laceration. Schuessler, a married father of two, was last seen alive the previous evening. Investigators believe he met someone at his residence that night, leading to an argument and altercation. He was a well-known farmer, rancher, hunter, and local business owner in the Mason community.
The Texas Rangers continue to actively investigate the case. Advances in technology have allowed evidence to be retested and submitted for analysis. Witnesses have been re-interviewed over the years, but no arrests have been made.
Texas Crime Stoppers, funded by the Governor’s Public Safety Office, provides cash rewards for information leading to arrests in cold cases. Schuessler’s case is among more than 140 unsolved Texas Rangers cases listed on the DPS website, encouraging the public to come forward and help bring closure to the family and community.
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.
