A series of disturbing events in Williamson County, rooted in a father's objection to his son's relationship, culminated in a 15-year prison sentence for an Austin man on charges of arson and planting explosive devices. Michael Sean Myers, 61, accepted his fate on September 13 when he pleaded guilty to arson causing bodily injury just before his trial was set to commence.

The ill-will that led to Myers' crimes reportedly began with his disapproval of his son's significant other. According to KVUE, Myers believed the woman and her family were "stealing his son away from him." The manifestation of his displeasure started subtly with actions like supergluing locks and sabotaging lawn equipment before escalating to life-threatening measures. In a nightmarish turn, a pipe bomb placed by Myers detonated within a vehicle on FM 972 early in 2022, inflicting serious hand injuries to a male victim.

The case, rife with terroristic acts, posed a stout challenge for legal prosecutors. District Attorney Shawn Dick highlighted the difficulty of such cases in a statement reported by KVUE, expressing gratitude toward prosecutors and law enforcement for their "determination and hard work." Dick affirmed, "Terroristic and dangerous acts will not be tolerated in Williamson County."

In February 2022, residents near Southwestern University in Georgetown experienced the shock of one such explosive device, recalling the incident as a "very big explosion." As reported by FOX 7 Austin, one resident, Robert Vaughn, described a controlled detonation by police responding to a suspicious object—as it turned out, planted deliberately—with shockwaves reaching the very foundations of neighboring homes. Unbeknownst to them at the time, these residents were caught on the periphery of Myers’ targeted attacks.

More evidence of Myers' readiness to harm surfaced as law enforcement found a third pipe bomb and makeshift grenades at his home later in the year. These discoveries cemented Myers' responsibility for the incidents, with the Williamson County District Attorney's Office, poignantly asserting through these dangerous times, that the community's safety had ultimately prevailed with Myers' incarceration.