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Willie Farr

UNSOLVED: Gambling Dispute Examined in 1994 Murder of Willie Farr

Amarillo police are continuing to seek information about the 1994 murder of 26-year-old Willie Marcell Farr, who was found shot to death inside a home in the 1000 block of North Harrison Street.

Farr, a graduate of Palo Duro High School, was last seen alive at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, February 11, 1994. After relatives were unable to contact him the following day, his aunt and cousin went to the residence and found him dead in a back bedroom. Police were called to the home at approximately 12:30 a.m. on February 13.

Investigators found that Farr had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including wounds to his chest. An autopsy determined that he had been dead for approximately 18 to 24 hours before his body was discovered.

Police found no weapon inside the residence and reported no apparent signs of a struggle. The absence of a forced confrontation may indicate that Farr knew or willingly admitted the person responsible, although authorities have not publicly confirmed that theory.

Investigators learned that Farr had expressed concern in the days before his death about a possible confrontation connected to a gambling dispute. Police also examined his relationships and social circle. In 2011, Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit Lt. Erick Bohannan said Farr had numerous associates and that his relationships with them were not always friendly.[1]

Despite following available leads, investigators were unable to identify enough evidence to charge anyone. Farr’s death was Amarillo’s fourth homicide of 1994.[2]

In February 2025, the Amarillo Police Department renewed its appeal for information about the case. More than three decades after the killing, Farr’s murder remains unsolved.

Anyone with information—even a detail that may appear insignificant—can contact the Amarillo Police Department Cold Case Unit at 806-378-6468. Anonymous tips may be submitted to Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 806-374-4400, through the Amarillo Police Department website or using the P3 Tips app.

Notes:

  1. https://www.amarillo.com/story/news/crime/2011/08/15/police-leads-exhausted-mans-1994-death/13151943007/ ↩︎

  2. https://www.mytexasdaily.com/panhandle/amarillo-police-renew-call-for-tips-in-1994-gambling-related-murder/article_36efe9bb-18cc-54c4-8f19-270cf31be00a.html ↩︎