Accused double murderer, Gary Otis Mason will continue to be held without bail in Union County Jail
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, November 10th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – Accused double murderer Gary Otis Mason of Elgin appeared in a Union County Courtroom on Thursday, November 9 in front of Judge Thomas Powers for a Bail Hearing related to the 2020 murders of Candy Williams and a juvenile female in Elgin.
The hearing involved Union County Sheriff Sergeant Jason McKaig, who was the lead investigator for this case. With McKaig on the stand, Union County District Attorney Kelsie McDaniel presented Judge Powers with a slide show containing a multitude of photographs and evidence collected at the scene on December 29, 2020, that led law enforcement to arrest Mason for the murder of Candy Williams and the juvenile female. Among the evidence was photographic evidence that two separate firearms were used. A Rugar 10-22 Rifle and an AR15. Both females sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Additionally, McDaniel shared information with Judge Powers regarding the contents of interviews with law enforcement, conversations with counselors, as well as a recorded phone conversation that Mason had with his sister from the Union County Jail, in which Mason was recorded saying that Candy had been suffering and that he had to “put her down,” later mentioning he “had to off the kid too” saying she was “better off dead…” During a conversation with a counselor, Mason reportedly said that he “hunted her down like a critter.”
Mason’s attorney Tony Schwartz argued that Mason was intoxicated at the time of the shootings. Also noting that during one of the interviews Mason told law enforcement he believed the wine he had consumed prior to the murders had been tampered with. This was something Schwartz referred to many times as “poison.”
It was noted by Sergeant McKaig that roughly ten hours after law enforcement initially made contact with Mason he was transported to La Grande where a blood sample was taken, and Mason’s BAC was .08%.
It was also noted that several times Mason was reported as saying “I can’t believe I killed them” (suggesting that he couldn’t honestly believe that he could do such a thing.) –
Once McDaniel and Schwartz had the opportunity to address Judge Powers it was announced by Powers that Mason will continue to be held in the Union County Jail without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 2024 with a trial date tentatively scheduled for September 2024.
Previously posted on November 9, 2023
Gary Otis Mason of Elgin will remain in custody at the Union County Jail without bail. That was the decision made today by presiding Judge Thomas Powers.
Mason was arrested and charged with the murders of Candy K. Williams and a minor female on December 29, 2020.
Details on the arrest of Mason can be found below.
Additional details to come on the six-hour hearing that took place today, November 9, 2023, in Union County.
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Previously reported on December 29, 2020
(Update)
MAN ARRESTED FOR MURDERS IN UNION COUNTY.
(Press release from the Union County Sheriff’s Department)
On Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at approximately 0300 hours Gary Otis Mason (DOB 03/31/66) of 68381 Chumos Road in Elgin was detained following an initial investigation at the residence.
The Union County Major Crimes Team investigated throughout the day and identified the two victims in this case. The first victim was identified as Candy K. Williams (DOB 06/30/64) who also resided at 68381 Chumos Road in Elgin and was Gary Mason’s significant other.
The second victim’s information will be withheld due to being a juvenile. On December 29, 2020, at approximately 1755 hours, Gary Otis Mason was lodged in the Union County Jail. He has been charged with Murder in the First Degree X2 (ORS163.107).
The Union County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Union County Major Crimes Team for all their hard work and assistance with this case. The Major Crime Team is composed of members of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, the La Grande Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Union County District Attorney’s Office.
At this time, we will not be offering further comments or information on this case as the investigation is ongoing. For further comment, we refer you to the Union County District Attorney’s Office.
(Previous)
TWO DECEASED INDIVIDUALS FOUND
(Press release from the Union County Sheriff’s Department)
On Tuesday, December 29th, 2020 at approximately 12:06 am, the
Union County 911 Dispatch Center received a 911 call from an unidentified male individual at 68381 Chumos Road in Elgin, Union County, Oregon, The caller asked for law enforcement assistance, and a Deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office and a Trooper with the Oregon State Police res arriving on the scene, law enforcement located two deceased individuals as well as the reporting party who was rendered aid by the Elgin Ambulance and the La Grande Fire Department.
As a result, the Union County Major Crime Team was called out to investigate. The Major Crime Team is composed of members of the La Grande Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, and the Union County District Attorney’s Office.
At this point in time, law enforcement does not believe there is an active threat to the community and they are continuing to investigate. No further information is being released at this time until law enforcement notifies the next of kin.
