South Texas Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murdering Wife Before Christmas

Bruce Alan Shealy, 45, of San Leon, was sentenced to life in prison on December 5, 2024, after being convicted of the murder of his wife, Amanda Montgomery, in a tragic shooting that occurred on December 9, 2022. The crime, which took place just days before Christmas, left Montgomery dead and Shealy critically wounded, setting off a series of investigations that ultimately led to Shealy’s conviction.

On the night of the shooting, Galveston County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call reporting shots fired at a home on the 10000 block of Parnell Avenue in San Leon. Upon arrival, deputies found Shealy and Montgomery near a car in the driveway, both suffering from gunshot wounds. Shealy, conscious and alert despite a gunshot wound to the chest, was able to speak with deputies, but his wife, Montgomery, a beloved local schoolteacher and mother of two, was found dead from multiple gunshots.

Investigators determined that Shealy and Montgomery had separated three weeks prior to the shooting, but they had been spending time together on weekends for the sake of their children. That night, Montgomery drove to Shealy’s residence to pick him up, as they had planned to visit the Festival of Lights in Dickinson with their two children. After Montgomery arrived, Shealy met them outside and sent the children into the house to fetch ice cream. The children later returned to find their parents lying on the ground, both with gunshot wounds.

Shealy’s son, aged nine, was instructed by his father, before being sent back into the house, to retrieve a note and cash left for him. The note, addressed to the young boy, instructed him to “take care of his sister” and to be the “man of the house.” This chilling message indicated Shealy’s intentions for his family, and the tragedy was compounded by the knowledge that the children had witnessed the aftermath.

A handgun was recovered at the scene, and further investigation revealed that Shealy had initially told first responders that he and Montgomery had been “jumped.” However, when Detective Danny Kitchens interviewed Shealy several days later, after Shealy had undergone surgery, he claimed not to remember Montgomery being there or coming to pick him up. When confronted with evidence, including the recovered handgun, Shealy requested legal representation, ending the interview.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office conducted a forensic investigation, which revealed that the handgun had Shealy’s DNA on it and had been used to fire the bullets recovered from Montgomery’s body. Forensic reports confirmed that the weapon was fully functional and consistent with the injuries sustained by Montgomery.

Shealy’s defense team attempted to argue that he was not responsible for the deaths, claiming that he did not shoot his wife or himself, but the jury deliberated for just two hours before returning a guilty verdict.

During the punishment phase, prosecutors Ricque Davis and Shannon Donnelly emphasized the brutality of Shealy’s actions, noting that one horrific act could result in a life sentence. Shealy’s attorneys argued that a life sentence was reserved for career criminals, but the jury disagreed, sentencing Shealy to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 30 years.

The Galveston County District Attorney’s Office expressed gratitude for the hard work of the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, and other law enforcement agencies in bringing justice for Amanda Montgomery and her children.