In September 2016, a seemingly warm night in downtown Atlanta turned tragic when Tex McIver shot his wife, Diane McIver, in their SUV. The aftermath of this shocking incident unfolded through a complex legal saga marked by wealth, power, and controversy. Tex, an attorney with political connections, faced a felony murder conviction in 2018, accused of intentionally shooting Diane.
However, the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the verdict in 2022, stating that jurors should have been allowed to consider a lesser charge. The district attorney aimed for a retrial in December 2023, but it quickly faced issues during jury selection, leading to an indefinite halt.
In a surprising turn of events, Tex McIver, now 81, opted for a negotiated plea deal, admitting guilt to felony involuntary manslaughter. This lesser charge indicates reckless behavior with a firearm, distinct from the initial intentional shooting accusation.
The plea comes with an eight-year prison sentence, largely offset by the approximately 6.5 years McIver has already spent behind bars. His potential release is contingent on parole board approval.
The case involved conflicting statements and questions about financial motives. Prosecutors in the 2018 trial argued that Tex intentionally killed Diane for her money. Diane, a respected business executive, had risen through the ranks, owning multiple companies, while Tex faced financial challenges as he prepared for retirement.
The defense countered that Diane’s death had cut off a cash flow McIver received from her, and the shooting was an accident. The Georgia Supreme Court agreed, stating that evidence of intentional shooting was not overwhelming, and jurors should have had the option to consider a lesser charge.
Tex McIver’s guilty plea to lesser charges marks a potentially imminent end to this tragic and convoluted legal saga, shedding light on the complexities of wealth, power, and personal relationships.
