Parents of 6 perished in murder-suicide
BOERNE — Former attorney Karen Hogan was sentenced to 20 years in prison for crimes related to money taken from six children who lost their parents in a 2021 murder-suicide, according to prosecutors.
Hogan pleaded guilty in March to misapplication of fiduciary-financial property of $300,000 or more, a first-degree felony, and to exploitation of a child-elderly- disabled person, a third-degree felony.
Judge Kirsten Cohoon of the 451st state District Court presided over the June 1 sentencing hearing, according to an online post from the Kendall County District Attorney’s Office.
“You owed an obligation to the court, the community and to our system of justice,” Cohoon said during sentencing. “I can’t even understand how it is that you went to that bank account and withdrew those funds.”
The judge added, “This is the hardest case I’ve presided over, because I can’t understand such a break of trust to your clients and to the whole system we work for.”
In addition, after the adjudication, Kendall County District Attorney Nicole Bishop offered an apology for the 20-year sentence cap put in place under the terms of the plea agreement.
“For someone from my own profession, an attorney, who was put in a position of trust; to steal from such vulnerable children is despicable,” Bishop said. “However, to come to her sentencing hearing without the full restitution when she has the means, show no remorse, and to make empty excuses for her actions is absolutely abhorrent.” Bishop added, “If I had known then what I learned at the sentencing hearing, that deal would never have been made.”
The case arose from Hogan’s misuse of estate funds while serving in a fiduciary capacity for six children connected to the estates of their parents Jason and Emily Evans.
Murder-suicide
On Dec. 31, 2021, with the children inside the family home, Jason Evans killed his wife and then took his own life in the attached garage, according to investigators.
The youngest child was 4 and the oldest child, who is also special needs, was 15. The children all went to live with their maternal grandmother.
Hogan was the attorney appointed by the probate court as the temporary administrator of the estate, according to evidence presented to the court. Investigators determined Hogan improperly took and used estate funds intended for the benefit and protection of the surviving children, prosecutors said.
Hogan was reported to have stolen nearly all of the $542,200 from the estate. Since Hogan was required to carry a bond, some of the funds were paid by the bonding company back to the estate, according to investigators.
However, an outstanding balance of $189,678.50 is still owed to the estate, prosecutors said.
At the sentencing hearing, Kendall County Probation Officer Jake Meadows testified about the pre-sentence investigation conducted after the defendant’s guilty plea.
Meadows said Hogan was either unwilling or unable to provide clear information about her finances, which included a $575,000 Monte Vista Historic District home in San Antonio and a $7,000-a-month pension.
‘Sweetheart scam’
Meadows reported Hogan accepted guilt for the most part, but also blamed her actions on the loss of loved ones, her mental declination due to a brain tumor, and the probate judge because the case was assigned to Hogan despite knowing about the brain tumor.
Kendall County Sheriff ’s Office Lt. Butch Matjeka testified that during the investigation, Hogan told him she fell victim to a “sweetheart scam” by someone that she met online and believed she was in a romantic relationship.
Matjeka confirmed the money stolen was wired to different places, including places and individuals in California and other places that were not connected to the estate.
The Sheriff’s Office tried to locate the person Hogan stated she sent the money to, but the information she had on the individual was false and they were unable to locate him.
Prosecutor Alessandra Deike asked if Hogan ever asked about the children or expressed remorse.
Matjeka testified no and that she seemed more concerned about herself.
Former Chief Justice of the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals Sandy Bryan Marion testified Hogan was a good and reliable attorney for many years until this incident.
Marion, who once practiced law in Boerne, was aware of the brain tumor; however, many months prior to the appointment, Hogan texted her to let her know that the brain tumor had been completely removed and the doctor had cleared her to drive and return to work, the court heard.
Cohoon sentenced Hogan to 20 years — the maximum allowed with the cap — on the first-degree felony and to the maximum 10 years on the third-degree felony in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court assessed a $5,000 fine and ordered Hogan to pay restitution in the amount of $189,678.50.
Hogan voluntarily relinquished her law license.
“For someone from my own profession, an attorney, who was put in a position of trust; to steal from such vulnerable children is despicable.”
— District Attorney Nicole Bishop
