Darryl Hamilton obit

Woman suspect in ex-MLB star Darryl Hamilton's death had previous arson charge

 

He was not on the list.

The woman who authorities believe shot and killed former Major League Baseball player and MLB Network analyst Darryl Hamilton, and then herself, at her Pearland home pleaded guilty to arson in 2008 in a case where she believed her then-husband was cheating on her, officials said.

The bodies of Hamilton, 50, and Monica Jordan, 44, were found about 4:45 p.m. Sunday inside the house in the 11500 block of Island Breeze, according to the Pearland Police Department. Police have not released a motive for the shootings.

Police said officers were sent to the home on an emergency call about a disturbance. When they arrived, they found the body of Hamilton near the front entry way. The body of Jordan was found in another part of the home.

Brazoria County District Attorney Jeri Yenne said Jordan – then Monica Jordan Richards – had pleaded guilty to felony arson in 2008 after burning down a Brazoria County house and garage where Jordan had been living with her now ex-husband.

Yenne said records indicated the dispute had begun over allegations of infidelity on her husband's part. Initial reports also indicated Jordan had chased him around the house, trying to throw gasoline on him. He was not injured, Yenne said.

"The circumstances were severe, the circumstances were very severe," Yenne said. "I have spoken to my staff every now and then, when we're talking about an arson, I would talk about this case."

Her ex-husband could not be reached at a number listed under his name.

According to the Brazoria County Appraisal District, the home on Island Breeze was owned by Jordan.

Investigators said it appeared Hamilton had been shot more than once and Jordan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police said the couple's 13-month-old boy was also found unharmed in the home. The boy was turned over to the state's Child Protective Services.

Hamilton was born in Baton Rouge, La., and played in college at Nicholls State before being drafted by the Brewers in 1986.

As an MLB player, Hamilton batted .291 with 1,333 hits, 707 runs scored and 454 RBI in his career. Known as a terrific defensive outfielder, Hamilton committed only 14 errors out of 2,770 defensive chances in his career for a .995 fielding percentage.

Hamilton was part of four playoff teams, including the 2000 National League Champion New York Mets. Hamilton spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers (1988-1995) before joining the Texas Rangers (1996), San Francisco Giants (1997-1998), Colorado Rockies (1998-1999) and Mets (1999-2001).

Darryl Hamilton was a pleasure to cover with the Mets, and he became a friend after he became a broadcaster. RIP He was often at MMP.

— Jose de Jesus Ortiz (@OrtizKicks) June 22, 2015

He joined the MLB Network as an analyst in 2013.

"We mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Darryl Hamilton," the network said on Twitter.

We mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Darryl Hamilton. pic.twitter.com/GXcTDgkhi9 — MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 22, 2015

Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred also released a statement Monday, saying:

"All of us at Major League Baseball are shocked and saddened by this tragedy. Darryl followed a successful 13-year career on the field by assembling a multifaceted career in our game, working for MLB Advanced Media and in our Baseball Operations Department before moving on to MLB Network. He was a talented and personable individual, and we were proud to call him a member of the Baseball Family. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest sympathies to Darryl's family and his many friends throughout our game."

Hamilton had lived in Houston for several years and previously worked with KPRC (Channel 2), KFNC (97.5 FM) and KGOW (1560 AM). He also worked for three years in MLB's on-field operations division.

In 2013, Hamilton told the Houston Chronicle's David Barron that broadcasting had been his second choice post-retirement.

"I thought the networks were looking for Hall of Famers on that level, and I wasn't a Hall of Famer," he said. "But they convinced me to think about it. I'm very fortunate to have the opportunity, and doing things on local TV and radio prepared me to do this."

Hamilton avidly tweeted about baseball. In one of his last tweets he posted a photo of himself at a Houston Astros game with his children.

Really Sad to hear my friend and former teammate Darryl Hamilton was killed yesterday. True Gentleman...you will be missed TaP forhis family

— Rob Dibble (@robdibble49) June 22, 2015

His final tweet was sent 5:29 p.m. Saturday, to congratulate Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer for throwing a no-hitter earlier in the day against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Sunday, a photo of Hamilton and two of his sons from a previous marriage was posted to his Facebook page.

We are extremely saddened by the untimely passing of Colonel Hall of Famer and dear friend Darryl Hamilton. pic.twitter.com/1KeC9EnmuY

— Nicholls Colonels (@GeauxColonels) June 22, 2015

Along the desolate street sits the beige brick exterior, two-story building where police say the incident occurred. Several similar houses are on either side, most of which are empty at noon Monday.

Neighbors say the street is quiet, with little interaction between neighbors other than a passing greeting.

Christopher Yarde, 40, had been living next door to the house almost nine years. He was here on Sunday afternoon but heard or saw nothing until he saw the police sirens.

He had only interacted with Jordan on a few occasions and seen Hamilton even less. Sometimes kids would be playing outside on the lawn, he said.

Jordan was friendly, he said.

He said he was surprised to hear of the incident in an otherwise "quiet neighborhood."

"Really it's just shock," Yarde said.

He was a baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1988 and 2001 for the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, and New York Mets. Hamilton prepped at Louisiana State University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge and then attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Hamilton was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th round of the 1986 Major League Baseball draft and signed a contract with them on June 12, 1986. He made his professional debut that season with the Helena Gold Sox of the Rookie-level Pioneer League, hitting .391 in 65 games. In 1987 with the Stockton Ports of the Class A California League, he hit .328 in 125 games with eight homers and 61 RBI, on a team that was rated one of the top farm teams in Brewers history. He began 1988 with the Denver Zephyrs of the Class AAA American Association, where he hit .325 in 72 games. He also played with the Helena Gold Sox, Pheonix Firebirds and the Stockton Ports.

Hamilton made his MLB debut on June 3, 1988, as a defensive replacement for Robin Yount in the top of the seventh against the California Angels. In his first at-bat, in the bottom of the inning, he singled to center field off of Stew Cliburn of the Angels for his first major league hit. He hit his first home run off of Bret Saberhagen of the Kansas City Royals on July 19, 1988. In 44 games with the Brewers during the second half of the 1988 season, Hamilton hit .184. His most notable moment that season was during his first start in left field, on September 3, he collided with shortstop Dale Sveum while chasing a blooper over third base. They collided with such force that Sveum's leg snapped, causing him to miss the rest of the season and all of the 1989 season and derailing his career. Hamilton avoided injury but spent the entire 1989 season back in the minors with the Zephyrs, where he hit .286 in 129 games.

In 1990, despite missing time with injuries, Hamilton played in 89 games and hit .295. He was awarded with the Brewers "Unsung Hero Award" in 1990 and the "Good Guy Award" in 1991 when he hit .311 in 122 games while still dealing with an assortment of injuries.

Hamilton stole 41 bases for the Brewers in 1992, while hitting .298 in 128 games. The Brewers as a team stole 256 bases, which was almost 100 more than the second place American League (AL) team. In a game on August 28, 1992, the Brewers set an AL record by recording 31 hits in a single game in a 22–2 rout of the Toronto Blue Jays. Hamilton had four hits and five RBI in that game.

When long-time Brewer star Paul Molitor left via free agency before the 1993 season, Hamilton became more important to the Brewers offense. He had some more injuries this season, but Hamilton still led his team in batting average (.310), hits (161), singles (130) and stolen bases (21) and was awarded with the team's "Harvey Kuenn Award."

The Brewers decision to move Hamilton from right field into center field for the 1994 season contributed to Hall of Famer Robin Yount's decision to retire after the 1993 season.

In 1994, Hamilton played in only 36 games (hitting .262) before he was shut down for the season and underwent reconstructive elbow surgery. Despite missing most of the season, the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers Association voted him the recipient of the "Michael Harrison Award" for community service. Hamilton was also one of the Brewers player representatives during the leadup to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike.

In his final season as a member of the Brewers, in 1995, Hamilton played in 112 games and hit .271 with 11 stolen bases. In his seven seasons with the team, he had an overall .290 batting average in 666 games and hit 23 home runs, drove in 253 RBI and stole 109 bases. After the 1995 season, the Brewers declined Hamilton's $2.5 million contract option, making him a free agent. Hamilton filed a grievance against the Brewers, claiming that he was benched in the weeks of the season in order to keep him from reaching 550 plate appearances which would have automatically picked up the option. The grievance was resolved in an undisclosed negotiated settlement.

The Giants traded Hamilton and Jim Stoops to the Colorado Rockies for Ellis Burks on July 31, 1998. Hamilton was surprised by the trade, wanting to complete his contract in San Francisco.

Hamilton was traded to the New York Mets with Chuck McElroy for Rigo Beltrán, Brian McRae, and Thomas Johns on July 31, 1999. He played with the Mets through the 2001 season. In his three seasons with them he played in 150 games and hit .283. Hamilton and the Mets played in the post-season in both 1999 and 2000. In 1999, the Mets made the playoffs as a result of winning a one game playoff against the Cincinnati Reds. Once in, they defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 1999 National League Division Series before losing to the Atlanta Braves in six games in the National League Championship Series. Hamilton had six hits in 17 at-bats in that series.

Hamilton worked for MLB Advanced Media from 2003 to 2006 and also worked for NBC Sports Network's Sports Talk and KPRC-TV in Houston. Also in Texas, Hamilton lent his voice to KFNC and KGOW. At the conclusion of the 2006 baseball postseason, Hamilton began working in the Major League Baseball Commissioner's Office of On-Field Operations, reporting to Vice President Bob Watson.

In 2012, Hamilton was named as a color analyst for a limited series of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim games to be broadcast nationally by Compass Media Networks radio. In 2013, he joined the MLB Network as an on-air analyst. In 2014, Hamilton served as a part-time color analyst on Brewers radio broadcasts, rotating with Craig Counsell and Jerry Augustine to call games with Joe Block when primary announcer Bob Uecker was absent.

Hamilton was married in 1994 to Access Hollywood anchor Shaun Robinson; they later divorced. Hamilton married fashion model Ursaline Steinke in 2000, with whom he had two sons, Donovan and Julian.

At the time of his death, Hamilton was living in an affluent neighborhood in suburban Houston, Texas, in a house belonging to his girlfriend, Monica Jordan. Jordan, a graduate of Florida State University and University of Houston Law Center, was an attorney who had been employed by Enron and Halliburton. The couple had a son together in 2014.

MLB statistics

Batting average            .291

Home runs            51

Runs batted in            454

Teams

Milwaukee Brewers (1988, 1990–1995)

Texas Rangers (1996)

San Francisco Giants (1997–1998)

Colorado Rockies (1998–1999)

New York Mets (1999–2001)

Career highlights and awards

Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor