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Woman ‘Tore Paintings Off the Wall With Her Hands’ at Mansion of Prominent Lawyer, Say Police

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Woman ‘Tore Paintings Off the Wall With Her Hands’ at Mansion of Prominent Lawyer, Say Police
John Smithies
12/27/2017
Updated:
9/26/2019

A woman from Dallas allegedly destroyed over $300,000 worth of artwork belonging to a well-known lawyer.

According to police, Lindy Lou Layman, 29, destroyed three paintings and two abstract sculptures at the mansion of Anthony Buzbee in River Oaks, Texas.

In the criminal complaint, Layman “tore paintings off the wall with her hands” and threw the sculptures across the room, Dallas News reported. Authorities say she also poured liquid on the paintings.

Layman was charged with felony criminal mischief on Saturday. She was released from Harris County Jail after posting a bond of $30,000 and will appear in court on Thursday, Dec. 28.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Layman is a freelance court reporter.
Buzbee is a high-profile attorney who hosted a fundraiser at his home for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Another fundraiser in the home raised $100,000 for Houston mayoral candidate Adrian Garcia in 2014.

In 2009 he won a landmark case against oil giant BP, securing $100 million for Texas residents affected by toxic discharge from a local BP plant. It was the largest win against BP and raised Buzbee’s profile, despite a federal judge later cutting the award by $99 million.

Buzbee’s home was listed at $14 million when he bought it, but is now worth $9.4 million, according to the Daily Mail.
Three months ago, Buzbee became embroiled in a dispute with the River Oaks Property Owners group after he bought a World War II tank for $600,000 and parked it outside his mansion. They said the tank caused “serious concerns for neighbors,” according to KHOU.
The tank can still be viewed in this Google Street View image of Buzbee’s home: