The Denton Police Department has charged 53-year-old Michael Tooley for the July murder of 20-year-old Dylan Gurley.
At 11:10 p.m. on July 23, officers responded to a call about an unconscious person at an abandoned house in the 3700 block of Holland Lane. The victim, later identified as Gurley, was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that both Tooley and Gurley were staying at the abandoned property. Witness interviews revealed that Tooley was upset on July 23 about money he believed was missing. He had previously made statements to witnesses about harming or killing anyone he suspected of stealing from him. Witnesses also reported previous disturbances between Tooley and Gurley.
Tooley was present with the 911 caller when Gurley was found unresponsive, but he fled the area before officers arrived.
On July 24, officers arrested Tooley on an unrelated Indecent Exposure warrant issued by Denton PD. Since then, he has remained in custody at the Denton County Jail.
During an interview with detectives, Tooley acknowledged a history of altercations with Gurley but denied any involvement in her murder.
As part of the investigation, detectives reviewed hours of Tooley’s jail phone conversations, during which he made several comments implicating himself in Gurley’s murder.
Detectives continued to gather additional evidence, confirming that Tooley and Gurley were in the same area during the timeframe of the murder.
On August 16, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Murder. Tooley remains in the Denton County Jail, with bail yet to be determined for the Murder charge.
