Hitchcock Man Convicted of Torture and Murder of Special Needs Stepson Found in Trash-Filled Trailer

HOUSTON – Hitchcock’s Timothy Ray Ellis was sentenced by a Galveston County jury to 60 years in prison for the murder of his 43-year-old stepson, Edwin Colleson, who had special needs. Ellis was found guilty of murder Wednesday after a trial detailed the abuse Ellis inflicted on Colleson.

In April 2022, Galveston County Emergency Medical Services responded to a call to Hitchcock regarding a man, later identified as Colleson, who was reported to be unconscious and breathing shallowly. When EMS arrived, they called the Hitchcock Police Department who, upon investigation, noted that Colleson had ligature marks on his wrists, ankles and neck.

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The 43-year-old died in hospital four days later. Ellis was charged with murder and his wife, Billie Barnes, Colleson’s mother, was charged with injury to a disabled person.

According to paramedics’ testimony, Colleson appeared dead when they arrived. He weighed only 68 pounds when he was taken to the hospital. Ellis admitted to tying Colleson with rope around his legs, using zip ties around his wrists and a belt around his neck to restrain him. He even described how he cut open Colleson’s ear and sewed it back together with fishing line, according to officials.

During the trial, which began Sept. 30, medical professionals who treated Colleson testified about the serious physical condition he was in when he was admitted to the hospital. His body was covered in skin lesions, weeks of feces and urine, and turmeric paste. Her legs were cramped and unable to straighten after being held in a confined position for a prolonged period of time, potentially months.

Hitchcock Police Detective Louis Garcia said Colleson was confined in a trash-filled trailer, where he was forced to live on a shelf used as a bed. Photos presented at trial showed the floor was covered in trash and padlocks had been placed on the refrigerator to prevent Colleson from accessing the food.

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Medical examiner Erin Barnhart confirmed that Colleson died from a combination of malnutrition, pneumonia, a perforated ulcer and injuries caused by prolonged restraint.

Barnes was also implicated in the abuse and is currently serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted of injuring a disabled person for her role in her son’s death.

The jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning the guilty verdict.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Kate Willis and Division Chief Adam Poole prosecuted the case.