She served two years for killing him. A decade later, she was back in court — this time over money, not murder.
Bill Hall Jr. died in October 2013 after a motorcycle crash caused by his wife, Frances, during a chase involving his mistress on a San Antonio highway. Frances Hall was later convicted of his murder, and years afterward, faced a second, unrelated legal case tied to their trucking business.
Building a Business Together
Bill and Frances Hall married as teenagers and built Bill Hall Jr. Trucking, a gravel-hauling company, into a multimillion-dollar operation together over three decades. By most accounts, including their daughter's, the family appeared close and successful — even as Bill's cousin later said Bill had confided in him about repeated infidelities throughout the marriage, which Frances reportedly forgave each time.
The Affair
In 2010, Bill began a relationship with Bonnie Contreras, then 28, whom he met at a festival in San Antonio. Their relationship lasted roughly three years, during which Bill provided her with financial gifts. When Bill began pulling away from the relationship in 2013, Contreras reportedly sent a barrage of messages to both Bill and Frances, including explicit images, which led to a confrontation at home and Bill temporarily moving in with Contreras.
The Crash
On October 10, 2013, Frances Hall spotted Contreras driving on a San Antonio highway with Bill following behind on his motorcycle. She began pursuing them in her SUV. The exact details of what followed are disputed, but the pursuit ended with Frances's vehicle striking Bill's motorcycle, throwing him from the bike. He died in the hospital hours later.
Trial and Sentencing
Frances Hall was tried for murder, maintaining throughout that the crash had been an accident. In 2016, a jury convicted her of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but found she had acted under "sudden passion" — a legal finding under Texas law that reduces the applicable sentencing range. She received two years, the minimum possible sentence for murder in Texas, and was released from prison in 2018.
Following the verdict, Bonnie Contreras publicly said she held no anger toward Frances and would be willing to offer her forgiveness in person.
A Second Legal Case
In 2022, Frances Hall was indicted on a first-degree felony fraud charge, accused by the Texas Department of Insurance of providing false payroll information to the company's workers' compensation insurer, Texas Mutual, between 2009 and 2016 to avoid more than $9 million in premium payments. She turned herself in and was released on bond while the case proceeded.
In May 2024, Hall entered a no-contest plea, and in July 2024 was sentenced in Austin's 147th District Court to 10 years of deferred adjudication — a form of probation that allows a defendant to avoid a formal conviction by meeting court-ordered conditions — along with $150,000 in restitution and required treatment as recommended by the probation department.
Where Things Stand Now
Bill Hall Jr. Trucking has continued operating under a different name, Iron Horse Transportation and Construction. As of the most recent reporting, Frances Hall remains under the terms of her 2024 deferred adjudication.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long did Frances Hall serve for killing her husband?
Two years — the minimum sentence available for murder in Texas — after a jury found she had acted under "sudden passion." She was released in 2018.
Was Frances Hall convicted again later?
She was not convicted in the fraud case; she entered a no-contest plea and received deferred adjudication in 2024, which allows her to avoid a formal conviction if she completes her probationary terms.
What happened to the trucking company?
It continues to operate under a different name, Iron Horse Transportation and Construction.
Is Bonnie Contreras still involved in the case publicly?
She spoke publicly after the 2016 verdict expressing forgiveness toward Frances Hall, but hasn't been reported as a party to the later fraud case.