Woman’s death called ‘suspicious’

The Donley County Sheriff’s Office this week is still trying to determine if a crime was committed when a Howardwick woman died from a gunshot wound last Wednesday, October 8.

Sheriff Butch Blackburn said his office is calling the death of Karla Bartek “suspicious” as they await the results of forensics before ruling the case as a suicide or a homicide.

Authorities received a call of a gunshot wound in Howardwick at 425 Janny after 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 8. Upon arrival, Sheriff Butch Blackburn found the body of Carla Bartek in the front yard of the home with one gunshot wound to the head. A .380 semi-automatic pistol was found with the body, Blackburn said.

Bartek’s husband, Alton, reported the incident, Blackburn said.

Preliminary results of an autopsy conducted Thursday found that the gunshot wound was the cause of Bartek’s death and that her body showed no other signs of trauma, leading officers to believe there was no physical altercation before her death.

Forensic lab results are expected back by next week, Blackburn said. The Texas Rangers are assisting with the investigation.

Funeral services for Bartek, age 53, were held Monday, October 13, in Amarillo at Calvary Baptist Church. Bartek, who was born February 1, 1961, in Farmington, New Mexico, to Wayne and Irene Holt, is survived by her husband; two sons, Ricky Paulson and Christopher Paulson; five brothers, Gene Willis, Marlin Willis, Ronnie Willis, Lonnie Willis and Victor Holt; and three grandchildren.