| Notes |
- Times Record News
Wichita Falls, Texas
Thursday, April 26, 2012
By Matt Ledesma
Wichita Falls police identified Wednesday a 75-year-old man found dead inside his home following a large fire in the 1600 block of Garfield last week.
Now they're asking for the community's help finding the man's next of kin.
The victim was identified as Terry Joseph Bassett, born January 20, 1937. Officer Jeff Hughes, police spokesman, said Bassett lived alone, wasn't married and didn't have any children.
He said police were having trouble finding any of Bassett's family members.
"We've exhausted all avenues searching for any next of kin," Hughes said. "We're asking anyone with information about the family to contact Officer Rick Cullar at 940-761-7762."
Bassett's death sparked a joint investigation by city police and Wichita Falls firefighters following the blaze that destroyed the man's home Friday.
Neighbors reported seeing flames about 2:40 a.m. It took firefighters a little under an hour to get the blaze under control.
Bassett's body was found inside the property.
Hughes said the investigation into Bassett's death revealed the cause to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Firefighters also determined the fire was self-started, according to Hughes.
A resident of the 1600 block of Garfield who asked not to be named described a neighborly but distant relationship with Bassett.
"I never even knew his first name. I always just called him Mr. Bassett," the woman said. "In 15 years I've never seen him have a visitor."
The woman said Bassett, an only child, lived with his mother until 2005. Hughes identified Bassett's parents as Carter and Lorene Bassett, both deceased.
Bassett's parents moved to Wichita Falls from Amarillo in 1946, according to a Times Record News article printed in 1949.
Bassett's neighbor said he was a reclusive person who at times would converse with her and her husband.
She said she felt a need to check in on him, especially after his mother's death.
She also described times Bassett would leave small gifts on her porch for her and her children.
She mentioned that in the week before the fire, Bassett spoke to her more than he ever had in several years.
"It's just sad. I think everybody should have somebody at the end," the woman said as she cleaned bits of broken glass and fire debris from her driveway.
The woman said Bassett mentioned having worked for a railroad company at one time.
An obituary for Carter Bassett from a March 1971 edition of the Times Record News indicated Bassett lived in Arlington at one time.
Follow reporter Matt Ledesma on Twitter @supermatt23.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1937 - 2012 (75 years)
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