Cause of death ruling expected this week in Hutchinson case

The shooting death of Craig Hutchinson, a popular sergeant with the Travis County Sheriff's Office, remains classified as an open investigation. But, FOX 7 has learned an official cause of death ruling is expected by the end of the week.

A "hold" on Hutchinson's autopsy at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office remains in place.

By Friday, or Monday, officials in Williamson County say they will reveal if his death was a case of murder or a suicide. Foreclosure proceedings involving Hutchinson's home may factor into that ruling

Detectives with the Round Rock Police Department have spent nearly three weeks investigating the death of Sgt Craig Hutchinson. Few details have been released since the shooting on July 25th except for a brief statement on August 3rd, from Chief Allen Banks regarding the gun used in the fatal shooting.

"Analysis of the projectile recovered indicates that the projectile came from Sgt. Hutchinson's weapon."

That announcement, by Chief Banks, came a day after the funeral for Hutchinson.

"The question, is will you be ready? I believe Hutchinson was ready,” said Travis Co. Sheriff Greg Hamilton.

As Sheriff Hamilton and former coworkers talked about their loss at Shoreline church in Georgetown, at the Williamson County Justice Center, Hutchinson’s home was scheduled to be auctioned off.

According documents obtained by FOX 7, the August 2nd foreclosure sale involved the collection of a loan, held by SunTrust Mortgage, which originally totaled $170,000. Hutchinson's house in Round Rock was not sold at the auction, although it remains on the August list of available properties.

When contacted by FOX 7, a company official said the property is not on the sales list for September and that he could not disclose the status of the lien. 

Round Rock investigators have also declined to talk about Hutchinson's financial situation.

The Travis County sergeant was found shot in the head after he returned home from work July 25th. Before he was shot, investigators say he notified county dispatchers that he was going to try to apprehend burglars. When a ballistic test revealed the bullet that killed Hutchinson came from his gun investigators said every possible scenario was on the table: from murder to suicide.