Dallas oil exec found dead in burned SUV was 'paranoid,' source says

By Domingo Ramirez Jr.

ramirez@star-telegram.com

The Fort Worth man who was found dead in a burning sport utility vehicle in Johnson County had told friends and relatives that he was concerned that someone was after him, a person familiar with him said Wednesday.

Robert E. Dodson II expressed his fears after he was arrested Oct. 4 on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance/methamphetamine. He was later indicted on the drug charge.

"He was in jail for a bit and then left the area for a week or two," said the person, who spoke to the Star-Telegram on the condition of remaining anonymous for fear of retaliation. "He returned but he was paranoid."

Dodson's body was found Sunday night in a burning SUV at a natural gas site in Johnson County. Authorities have not released any information on how the 44-year-old father of three was killed.

Dodson was the man who reported to Fort Worth police on June 28 that he had found Claudia Hidic, 17, dead at the back door of his home near Tanglewood Elementary School in Fort Worth.

Police said that Hidic had orchestrated a robbery at the residence and she was shot to death during a gunbattle. Her accomplices in the crime, Terrance Crumley and Curtis C. Fortenberry, both 21 and former football standouts at North Crowley High School, were arrested and indicted by a Tarrant County grand jury in Hidic's death.

Shortly after Hidic's killing, Dodson moved out of the Tanglewood neighborhood.

His death came on the day Hidic would have turned 18.

Dodson was found inside the vehicle by Godley firefighters about 7 p.m. Sunday at County Road 914 and Skyline Drive. Authorities are treating the death as a homicide.

Lt. Tim Jones said Wednesday that investigators know when he was last seen alive, but declined to provide that information.

"Investigators are still checking every lead," said Jones, of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office.

Dodson was vice president over management at Buckley Oil Co., a family-owned business in Dallas, according to the company's website.

Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763

Twitter: @mingoramirezjr

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