Sgt 1st Class Donald Gower, US Army

Fort Hood soldier Sgt. 1st Class Donald Gower, US Army, conspired and offered to pay Chaka Johnson, Jeremiah Ellison, and John Martinez money to murder his estranged wife Hidi Easton Gower. Sgt. 1st Class Gower’s motive was the life insurance payout worth $110,000. Hidi was shot to death in a VFW parking lot in Texas on July 4th, 2007.

Donald Gower – sentenced to life in prison without parole
Chaka Johnson – sentenced to life in prison without parole
Jeremiah Ellison – sentenced to 7 years for tampering with evidence
John Martinez – testified for prosecution in Gower/Johnson trials
Regina Edwards – charges dropped, testified for prosecution in Gower/Johnson trials

Learn more: Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance is a Common Motive for Murder

Related Links:
Five arrested in connection with murder plot
New Details Emerge In Murder For Hire Plot
Suspect in Murder for Hire Headed Back to Texas
Soldier accused of ordering wife killed returning to Texas
Texas Man in Riley County Jail – Victim’s Mother Speaks Out
Husband in jail for wife’s murder
Murder-for-hire member indicted
Johnson found guilty of capital murder
Chaka Johnson sentenced to life in prison
VFW murder trial moving forward
Capital murder trial to begin Monday
Testimony: Fort Hood man discussed killing wife a lot
‘Star witness’ takes stand
Testimony sheds light on murder plot
Testimony ends in Gower murder trial
Gower convicted of wife’s murder
Jury finds Gower guilty in capital murder trial
Gower sentenced to life imprisonment for murder
Capital murder charged dropped; Ellison sentenced for tampering with evidence
Mass killings overshadow Killeen-area deaths involving soldiers
Inmates hit with more limits after foiled escape
Court of Appeals: Chaka Romain Johnson v. The State of Texas (2010)
Court of Appeals: Donald Dean Gower v. The State of Texas (2010)
Gower v. Stephens (2013)