WEST UNIVERSITY PLACE, Texas — Brett Detamore, a West University man who was the focus of an extensive search last summer, now faces federal charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Detamore made headlines in June 2023 after his wife reported him missing and his burned truck was found in Bear Creek Park.
Several agencies joined the search for the father of three who was found "dazed and disheveled" at a San Antonio bus stop nearly a week later, according to Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen. Precinct 1 officers who "specialize in mental health operations" took Detamore to a Houston hospital to be evaluated and treated.
On Friday, Aug. 9, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the 39-year-old is charged with wire fraud.
According to the feds, the custom homebuilder fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million for his personal use by misusing funds intended for the construction of private residences. Hamdani said Detamore allegedly submitted false and fraudulent invoices to banks holding construction loans for single-family residences he had been contracted to build.
After his disappearance, KHOU 11 reported that he faced multiple civil lawsuits claiming he defaulted on business loans totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. One lawsuit accuses Detamore of using the money for his "lavish lifestyle" which included trips to luxurious resorts, expensive vehicles, a beach home and major sporting events like the Super Bowl and World Series.
The lawsuit also says Detamore faked his disappearance.
"Early on, our guys were able to determine that he probably left on his own for a lot of reasons," Rosen said last year after Detamore was found. "People have those struggles every day. What was going through his mind, I don’t know. People have struggles, they go through things and deal with them in different ways. All I know is that we got him to a place where he is able to get the proper care that he needs."
If convicted of wire fraud, Detamore faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine as well as full restitution to the victims.
He pleaded not guilty on Aug. 12.
The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the West University Police Department.
More background on Brett Detamore disappearance
A surveillance camera recorded Detamore's truck leaving his neighborhood at 4:21 a.m. on June 21, 2023, the West U. Police Department said. They said it wasn't unusual for Detamore to leave for work early in the morning.
His wife reported him missing a few hours later.
Detamore's new yellow Dodge Ram pickup truck was later found burned in Bear Creek Park, about 20 miles away. HPD used a secret VIN to trace it to Detamore.
In a news conference, WUPD Chief Ken Walker confirmed said the truck was intentionally set on fire and witnesses had seen a man walking away from the burning vehicle.
HPD, Harris County Constable precincts 1 and 5, and Texas Equusearch volunteers began looking for Detamore.
“We do have some information that indicates it may have been pre-planned with no crime involved," Walker said after Detamore was found.
Rosen admitted then that the investigation and search that took place in blazing heat cost "a lot" but said they were just doing their job.
"The ones I feel badly for are the great people at Equusearch. It was hot Friday," Rosen said.
Texas Equusearch founder Tim Miller said he'd do it all again because you never really know how these cases might end.
