Who Is Michael Garza & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Michael Garza was the man prosecutors identified as the gunman who fatally shot Texas fire captain Robert “Bob” Poynter on a secluded county road in September 2016. Once described as one of several men involved in an affair with Robert’s wife, Chacey Poynter, Garza became a central figure in one of Texas’ most high-profile murder cases.

His conviction established that Robert Poynter’s death was not the result of a random roadside attack, but a planned killing that prosecutors said was motivated by money, manipulation, and deception. Dateline NBC revisits the case in Out of the Darkness, examining Garza’s role in the murder and where he is today.

• “Out of the Darkness”: Dateline NBC Revisits Robert “Bob” Poynter Homicide July 3 2026
• Who Was Robert “Bob” Poynter & What Happened to Him? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Chacey Poynter & Where Is She Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Who Is Michael Garza?

At the time of Robert Poynter’s murder, Michael Garza was a Texas truck driver who had begun a relationship with Chacey Poynter during the summer of 2016 after the two met on Facebook.

According to evidence presented at trial, Garza believed many of Chacey’s claims that she was trapped in an abusive marriage. Prosecutors argued that Chacey repeatedly portrayed herself as a victim, telling Garza that Robert was violent and controlling, allegations that investigators later said they could not substantiate.

The relationship intensified quickly through frequent phone calls, text messages, and in-person meetings. Prosecutors later described Garza as someone who became emotionally invested in Chacey and was ultimately manipulated into carrying out her plan.

The Plot to Kill Robert Poynter

On September 9, 2016, prosecutors said Garza participated in a plan to lure Robert Poynter to an isolated farm road outside Royse City, Texas.

Chacey contacted her husband and falsely claimed her Jeep had become stuck in the mud. Robert, who was working that evening, drove to help her. After parking his truck because the road had become impassable, he walked with Chacey to the Jeep and climbed into the driver’s seat in an attempt to move it.

Investigators concluded that Garza was waiting nearby with a shotgun. As Robert sat inside the vehicle, he was shot once in the head at close range. Medical evidence showed he died from a single shotgun blast, with investigators describing the attack as an execution-style killing.

The Investigation

Immediately after the shooting, Chacey told police that an unknown gunman had emerged from the darkness before disappearing into nearby fields.

As detectives questioned her, however, inconsistencies emerged. After several hours of interrogation, Chacey admitted that Garza had been present that night, although she claimed she believed he only intended to confront Robert rather than kill him.

Authorities launched a search for Garza following Chacey’s arrest. After initially avoiding investigators, he turned himself in several days later and was charged with Robert Poynter’s murder.

One of the most significant breakthroughs came about five weeks after the killing, when a farmer discovered the murder weapon while plowing a field less than a quarter mile from the crime scene.

The shotgun remained loaded with additional slug rounds and was traced to Garza’s family after investigators determined it belonged to his brother. The discovery provided key physical evidence linking Garza to the murder.

What Happened at Trial?

Michael Garza became the first of the two defendants to stand trial in 2018.

He pleaded not guilty and denied pulling the trigger. During his testimony, Garza claimed he was at his family’s property tending to a sick cow at the time of the murder. Prosecutors challenged the alibi and argued it was contradicted by the evidence gathered during the investigation.

Garza also attempted to shift blame toward Chacey, suggesting that she may have been responsible for Robert’s death. Prosecutors rejected that claim, arguing the evidence overwhelmingly showed Garza fired the fatal shot while Chacey lured Robert to the location.

The jury rejected Garza’s defense after hearing testimony, forensic evidence, and digital records presented during the trial.

Conviction and Sentence

In July 2018, Michael Garza was convicted of murder.

The jury sentenced him to 99 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The lengthy sentence reflected the seriousness of the crime and the jury’s finding that Robert Poynter had been deliberately ambushed after being lured to the isolated location by someone he trusted.

Garza’s conviction also strengthened the prosecution’s case against Chacey Poynter, who was tried later that year and convicted of orchestrating the murder.

Where Is Michael Garza Now?

As of 2026, Michael Garza remains incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, serving his 99-year sentence for the murder of Robert Poynter.

Although inmates serving lengthy sentences may eventually become eligible for parole under Texas law depending on statutory requirements and sentence calculations, Garza remains imprisoned, and there has been no public indication that he has been released or that his conviction has been overturned.

A Lasting Impact

The murder of Robert Poynter devastated his family, friends, and fellow firefighters throughout Texas. Prosecutors argued that Garza allowed himself to become part of a conspiracy built on lies about Robert and promises of a future with Chacey Poynter.

The convictions of both Michael Garza and Chacey Poynter brought the criminal proceedings to a close, but Robert’s family has continued to focus on preserving the memory of the veteran fire captain rather than the people responsible for his death.

Dateline NBC’s Out of the Darkness revisits Garza’s role in the case through police interviews, courtroom evidence, and testimony that explains how investigators connected him to one of the most shocking domestic murder cases in recent Texas history.

More “Out of the Darkness”

• “Out of the Darkness”: Dateline NBC Revisits Robert “Bob” Poynter Homicide July 3 2026
• Who Was Robert “Bob” Poynter & What Happened to Him? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Chacey Poynter & Where Is She Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Michael Garza & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile