Miller: Texas judge has "no grudge" as probe expands in prosecutor deaths

(CBS News) Texas authorities are expanding the focus of an ongoing investigation into the murders of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia in March and Mark Hasse, a prosecutor in McLelland's office who was fatally shot two months earlier. On Friday, CBS News learned authorities executed a search warrant at the home of former Kaufman County justice of the peace Eric Williams.

Williams was prosecuted and convicted of theft last year by the district attorney's office and lost his position and license to practice law. Williams has denied any role in the murders. Investigators are not calling him a suspect in the three killings.

Authorities search home in slain Texas DA investigation
Family: Not enough done to protect Texas prosecutor

CBS News special correspondent John Miller, a former assistant director for the FBI, said Saturday that despite speculation that the murders are related to the Aryan Brotherhood "behind the scenes they've been carefully looking at suspects that are people prosecuted by that district attorney's office."

He added that the focus on Williams is related to his conviction for stealing computer monitors from the county. "They were looking at him as someone with a possible grudge," Miller said.

Williams was questioned by police several hours after the McLelland murders, and Miller explained that as the investigation draws out authorities pushed to find probable cause to obtain a search warrant. On Friday, investigators searched both Williams' house and his in-laws' home nearby for "physical or forensic evidence that would tie him to the crimes."

Miller also shared detailed from what he described as "informal conversations [with Williams] over time."

"I've spoken to him ... he says, 'I've cooperated every turn, I've given them their tests, I've turned over my cell phones,'" Miller said, explaining that Williams told him, "'These prosecutors were doing their job. I have no grudge about my case.'"

"He doesn't believe that the Aryan Brotherhood is behind it either," Miller said, adding that Williams' case is currently pending appeal.

"He said, 'Why would I do it ... when I show up in Dallas for my appeal, the lawyer from the appellate division from the DA's office is going to be there fighting so, you know, taking out the DA or the assistant DA doesn't actually accomplish anything for me.'"