A 59-year-old Texas woman remains behind bars this week, facing murder charges after authorities say she ran over her boyfriend with a modified golf cart and left him to die in their driveway.
Lisa Ann Guetter was arrested following the death of 71-year-old Gene Donald Kaping, who succumbed to his injuries days after the April 2 encounter at their home in Quitman.
According to court documents, deputies from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene on April 3 to find Kaping unresponsive on the ground. Though he was rushed to a nearby hospital, he passed away four days later.
Investigators say the incident began as a drunken argument between the couple. Guetter reportedly told police she was driving a “souped-up” golf cart at roughly 15 mph when she struck Kaping. She alleged that Kaping “hydroplaned” across the ground before landing near a cluster of large rocks.
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While Guetter initially told investigators the vehicle’s brakes had failed, a mechanical inspection later determined the brakes were fully functional. Detectives also noted that Guetter had been driving the cart in loops around the driveway prior to the collision, suggesting she was “very aware” of Kaping’s exact location.
The investigation took a darker turn as deputies searched the couple’s shared residence. There, they reportedly discovered a handwritten note from Guetter that asked, “Why let him be there? Why not shoot him?” Kaping’s sister later described Guetter to authorities as “controlling, mean and evil,” noting that her behavior escalated when she consumed alcohol.
This was reportedly not the first time violence had occurred in the home; the arrest affidavit makes reference to a previous incident where Guetter allegedly attacked Kaping with a knife.
Following the impact on April 2, Guetter claimed Kaping told her not to call for help. She told police she left him lying in the driveway overnight and did not check on his condition for approximately 12 hours. By the time she returned to him the next morning, he was no longer responsive.
Guetter is currently being held at the Wood County Jail. Her bond has been set at $1 million following the upgrade of her charges to murder. A future court date has yet to be announced.
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