Family Wants Murder Convict in Prison

Is a man getting away with murder?

Barry Crawford, a former Houston firefighter, was convicted of murdering a tow truck driver Steven Ray Hardin back in 1998. Crawford was sentenced, not to jail time but to 10 years probation.

Hardin's family members say Crawford isn't following the terms of his probation. They say year after year his probation has been a joke.

Crawford was ordered, as one of his conditions of probation, to place flowers on Hardin's grave twice a year.

Another term?

Crawford was supposed to carry a sign confessing, "I went to jail for murdering a citizen of Humble."

The victim's loved ones say one excuse after another keeps Crawford from obeying his probation.

The court revised the probation order a while back saying because Crawford has a bad back he doesn't have to carry the sign.

Another change? Because Crawford doesn't carry a wallet, he's excused from carrying a picture of his victim.

The Hardin family also says Crawford is more than $12,000 behind on restitution and other payments. They're supposed to receive more than $400 a month.

Relatives complain that doesn't happen. They point out receiving one check for only $1.24.

"My family has been victimized over and over again," Hardin's sister, Tonya Hardin, says.

It was April 1998 when Hardin tried to tow Crawford's truck from a disputed parking spot. Hardin was shot and killed.

Under the law when someone isn't obeying probation, they could be sent to prison.

Crawford is still free and the Hardin family wants to know why.

In exactly one year, Crawford will be finished serving his 10 years of probation or will he?

FOX 26 contacted Harris County Probation Department and Crawford but neither returned calls for comment.