The Blount Family Bombing Part Three: The Career Criminal

Nearly twelve years after the Thanksgiving 1985 bombing at Hilltop Mobile Home Park, investigators received a tip that shifted their attention to Michael Roy Toney, a 31-year-old man with a lengthy criminal history. After a five-month investigation and grand jury proceedings, Toney was indicted for the bombing deaths of Joe Blount, his 15-year-old daughter Angela Blount, and his 18-year-old nephew Michael Columbus.

Toney’s capital murder trial began in early May 1999 in Fort Worth. Susan and Robert Blount testified and nearly 80 pieces of physical evidence recovered from the destroyed trailer and the victims were presented. Prosecutors argued that the Blount family had not been the intended target and that Toney had mistakenly placed the briefcase bomb outside the wrong trailer.

The prosecution’s case relied heavily on testimony from Toney’s former wife and estranged friend, who both testified that they accompanied Toney to a business beside Hilltop Mobile Home Park on Thanksgiving Day 1985 and that Toney carried a briefcase away from his truck and returned without it. The defense challenged both accounts and emphasized that there was no physical evidence presented at trial connecting Toney to the bomb. They also returned attention to former Hilltop resident Mikey Huff, who had been investigated repeatedly over the years.

On May 20, 1999, after approximately four hours of deliberation, the jury found Michael Roy Toney guilty of capital murder. During the punishment phase, more witnesses provided damning testimony against him.

If you have any information about the murders of Joe and Angela Blount and Michael Columbus, please call the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tipline at (888) 283-8477.

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