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Dustin Dickman
Two men were arrested this week and charged with murdering a 23-year-old Paige man who had previously been thought missing, according to reports from the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office.
On Monday, 24-year-old Dustin Eugene Dickman was arrested and charged with the murder of his former roommate, Michael Van Dyke, who is believed to have been killed by blunt force trauma to the head on Dec. 15, 2009 at the residence the two shared at 325 County Line Road in Paige, according to law enforcement reports.
On Friday, 25-year-old Dennis Leetch of San Marcos was also arrested and charged in Van Dyke’s murder.
BCSO Sgt. Ric Cole said on Friday afternoon that a piece of wood reportedly used as the weapon has been recovered but investigators are still searching for Van Dyke’s body. Search and rescue dive teams have been dispatched to several ponds in the county this week.
Van Dyke, who worked as a cook in a Paige restaurant, was reported missing by his family on Dec. 27, but had not been seen or heard from since earlier in the month, according to Cole. As more time lapsed with no word, additional information began to surface that foul play was involved, Cole said.
“We learned information from his (Van Dykes) place of employment that indicated the people he was living with were not telling the truth,” Cole said on Friday.
According to Bastrop County Sheriff Terry Pickering, Van Dyke had a history of disappearing for extended periods of time, a factor that delayed the case being suspected of involving murder until last weekend.
“We had no reason to doubt that the story we were getting was factual,” said Pickering on Thursday in reference to the missing person’s investigation.
Cole said more information is expected to come to light soon but it is believed the alleged murder occurred after an argument broke out between Dickman and Van Dyke over property missing from their home.
This Michael Van Dyke was a US Army veteran who served a combat tour in Balad, Iraq from 2005 to 2006 in the 181st Transportation Battalion. Stationed in Mannheim Germany, Turley Barracks. His time in the army ended with the disbanding of 181st Trans in 2007
first off my conodolences to the family as i was a friend of micheal at one point in time, im sorry for the way his death came about as it is a shock to me and other friends. he will be missed.
micheal grew up in san marcos texas, he went to san marcos high school there…
Our heartfelt conodolences to Michael’s family for their loss. Michael was a good soul who never deserved such a violent end to his young life. Our community mourns his death and will ensure justice is served in this horrific crime.
yes Mike was stationed here 181st Transportation Battalion. Stationed in Mannheim Germany, Turley Barracks… we were friends back in those days and stayed friends after he left germany i just talked to him right before he was missing in december its such a shock for me knowin that i just talked to him and then i hear from a friend we both have that mike is dead… he had alot friends in germany and alot good times to remember we will all miss him and always love him and keep him in our hearts… prayers from germany to you mike til we see again
mike was a very good friend of mine.One of the frist when i moved to san marcos he lived with my wife and i for awhile he was smart and to young to die i wll forever miss him but i know now that hes at home with our lord in a far better place then this.I loved him like a brother and always will untill me meet agin.R.I.P my friend we will never forget you.
My conodolences to the family of Van Dyke, he was a good guy, and he’ll be missed. He was a good friend during the time that I was with the 181st.
I will miss Michael, this comes to me as a shock i just heard word, He was such a good friend throughout highschool. He is with the lord now, Till we meet again.
I graduated with and was very good friends with Michael’s sister…he was cool and a very handsome young man. May those that did this have many sleepless nights thinking of that innocent young man….
I attended school with michael he was a great guy and family friend he was so sweet and would go out of his way to help anyone who needed help .he had a smile that would brighten anyone’s day . we where in R.O.T.C together he was always making up cadets laugh and stay on track he will be missed dearly my prayers r with his family n till we meet again mike i love ya