Elderly Man’s Will Being Examined Amid Capital Murder Investigation

According to investigators elderly man Martin Knell’s murder on January 28 may have involved a dispute with one of the two suspects over decedents will.  Martin “Mark” Knell Jr., the son of the 96-year-old decedent, has filed a probate case after learning that his father had drafted a new will about a month before his passing.  Melissa Monica Patterson was named both the executor and a major beneficiary of Knell’s estate in the new will even though she only knew the decedent for 90 days.  The circumstances are suspicious because Patterson has ties to Palacios family which has influence in Hidalgo County.  The son is making the claim that his father may have lacked testamentary capacity when he drafted the new will. 

See Ashly Custer, Will of elderly man under review amid capital murder investigation, The Valley Central, August 28, 2015.