Arrests made in 2005 killing

A Rogers man has been charged with the 2005 death of a Causey rancher, according to a press release from the District Attorney’s office.

A federal grand jury indicted Donald Taylor, 27, Monday on racketeering and murder charges in connection with the July 2005 death of 71-year-old Jimmy “Bo” Chunn, according to District Attorney Matt Chandler.

Roosevelt County sheriff’s deputies also arrested Billy Joe Watson, 42, of Roosevelt County on Monday on racketeering and drug charges, Chandler said in the same press release. Chandler said the arrests are connected but declined to comment on how.

Chandler said Taylor has been held at a federal penitentiary in Las Cruces on unrelated firearm charges since early in the investigation into Chunn’s death.

Chunn was found July 8, 2005, shot to death at his Causey home.

Watson is facing charges of interstate racketeering and conspiracy to commit manufacturing methamphetamine over 50 grams, according to the release.

Watson is being held at a federal holding facility in Las Cruces without bond, Chandler said.

Chandler said the indictments were sealed at the federal level pending the final stages of the investigation.

Capt. Lonnie Berry of the Portales Police Department said he’s known for a while that things were falling in place for the indictments but seeing those come down was a relief.

“We’re just glad to finally get it behind us,” Berry said.

Sue Inge, Chunn’s sister, said she had been advised Monday that arrests had been made in the case but was unaware of the federal grand jury indictments.

“I don’t really know a whole lot,” Inge said late Monday night. “I just got a call this morning that said they were making arrests. I’m very glad they’ve done that.”

— Freedom Newspapers’ Karl Terry contributed to this report.