Suspect in doctor’s death gave Ohio woman his house

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — An Ohio woman who was an acquaintance of the man suspected of killing one of former President George H.W. Bush’s doctors in Texas learned several days after the fatal shooting that he’d deeded his home to her.

Jeannette Spencer, of Painesville, near Cleveland, told the (Willoughby) News-Herald that she called Joseph Pappas on July 24, after being notified by mail about the deed transfer.

Clerk records show that Joseph James Pappas signed to convey his deed to Spencer on July 19. The deed transfer was officially delivered on July 23.

Dr. Mark Hausknecht was fatally shot while riding his bike three days earlier in Houston, Texas.

According to The Houston Chronicle, Joe Donaldson, who owns the courier service that picked up the documents from Pappas, said the man displayed strange behavior throughout the transaction.

Spencer says Pappas told her he’d given the home to her because he was terminally ill. She says she’d known Pappas for about 25 years. She said that Pappas then texted her Monday and said he was going to kill himself and provided instructions on securing the home.

Pappas killed himself Friday during a confrontation with Texas authorities.

Authorities have said that Pappas might have been seeking revenge for his mother, who died during an operation performed by Hausknecht more than 20 years ago.