STARRVILLE, Texas — An appeals court on Wednesday affirmed the conviction of a man serving life in prison for murdering an East Texas pastor in 2021.

Mytrez Woolen was found guilty of capital murder in September 2024 for shooting and killing Starrville Methodist Church Pastor Mark McWilliams while hiding inside the church on Jan. 3, 2021. He was then automatically given a sentence of life in prison without parole.

Woolen appealed his conviction based on five issues to the 12th Court of Appeals, and on Wednesday, the court affirmed his conviction by denying all five items.

Firstly, he claimed there wasn't enough evidence to support his conviction, specifically that he committed the felony of stealing the church's bank bag. He also tried to say evidence in court didn't disprove his self-

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