Search for missing Stephenville girl continues on river

By Matt Smith/Staff Writer

While family members and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department representatives made funeral arrangements, residents in Johnson and Guadalupe counties remembered Game Warden Teyran “Ty” Patterson as a friend and inspiration.

“I’ve been in Seguin 10 years, and not many kids get out of here after school,” said Tally Neal, former assistant principal and football coach at Seguin High School. “But Ty did. He’ll be well-remembered for his person, family and character. I don’t think he’ll ever be forgotten.”

Patterson, who was Johnson County’s game warden, died Wednesday during a search-and-rescue operation on the Paluxy River near Glen Rose. He drowned after the boat carrying him and his partner, Game Warden Danny Tuggle, overturned about 8:10 a.m. near where the river passes under Farm-to-Market Road 205 in Somervell County.

Patterson, 28, and Tuggle were searching for the body of suspected drowning victim Courtney Butler, 17, of Stephenville when their boat capsized. Somervell County sheriff’s deputies joined Somervell volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in pulling both men from the river. Tuggle, a 25-year veteran game warden, was transported by helicopter to Harris Methodist Fort Worth hospital after suffering “near-drowning injuries” according to a Texas Parks and Wildlife press release. As of Thursday, Tuggle was in good condition and expected to recover fully, said Tom Harvey, a Texas Parks and Wildlife spokesman. Paramedics attempted to revive Patterson.

Officials have not found Butler’s body, Harvey said. Friends reported Butler missing about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. While swimming with friends, Butler may have jumped in the river to save a friend when she disappeared. It remains unknown whom Butler was attempting to rescue. No one else has been reported missing or drowned in the area, Harvey said.

Johnson County Precinct 1 Commissioner R.C. McFall grew up close to and still owns property near the Paluxy River. He called the area a popular swimming spot that grows extremely dangerous at times.

“I was born and raised here, and we used to play and swim in that area all the time,” McFall said. “There’s a cement dip that cars used to drive across. That was our way to town before the bridge was put in in the early ’60s, and then there’s a pretty deep, good swimming hole. But when we get rain like this and it’s rising, it’s the swiftest river in Texas. It falls about 10 feet per mile.”

Law-enforcement personnel from Johnson County joined Thursday morning’s procession along Interstate 35W that carried Patterson’s body back to his hometown of Seguin.

Patterson graduated Seguin High School in 1998. He played linebacker and running back for the school’s football team and also played baseball. Patterson received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Texas State University then served as a dispatcher for the Seguin Police Department before graduating from the 51st Texas Game Warden Academy in 2005. After graduation, the department stationed Patterson in Johnson County.

“He came out to meet me and introduce himself; Johnson County was his first assignment,” McFall said. “I gave him keys to the office so he could stop by if he needed ice, and I figured it’s not bad to have a game warden stopping by your office at night. Anyway, we became really good friends over the past couple of years.”

McFall said Patterson was less interested in writing tickets than in helping people and working with children.

“It just breaks your heart, and you hate to lose someone that young,” McFall said.

Many in Seguin feel the same way, said Judy Peschel, public information coordinator for Seguin ISD.

“This has just hit our small community really hard,” Peschel said. “His family is well-known and loved here.”

Neal said Patterson’s accomplishments give everyone in Seguin something to be proud of and should inspire young people to know they can make a difference.

“Ty was an excellent student and athlete,” Neal said. “The kind of person you knew was going somewhere. It’s such a hard loss; my heart’s just heavy, and it’s still hard to even talk about.”

Services are tentatively set for Monday at the Seguin-Guadalupe Coliseum.

A scholarship-benefit fund in Patterson’s name has been established, and donations can be sent to Wells Fargo Bank, 101 E. Nolte St., Seguin 78155. For information, call 830-379-1171.

Matt Smith can be reached at 817-645-2441, ext. 2339, or msmith@trcle.com.