Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for Attorney General Gentner Drummond, said the agency had received an audio recording and is investigating the incident, but declined to comment further. Okla. One Site. One Database In Oklahoma alone, there are over 700 people missing; over 100 unidentified; and over 1,000 homicide cases that are unsolved. Here at Oklahoma Cold Cases we do our best to share the stories of these victims. It was not immediately clear if either has entered a plea to the charges or retained an attorney. The Associated Press could not immediately verify the authenticity of the recording. "Not this day and age. The worst year for WebSome of the oldest unsolved murders on Uncovered s cold case website include the 1960 murder of Nancy Eagleson, the 1977 murder of Ann Harmeier, the 1977 murder of So, while the world seems to become an increasingly dangerous place, you can find solace in knowing that there's plenty of opportunity to escape this weekend with some local events for all interests. Bruce Willingham said he has also turned over his audio recordings to the FBI and the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office and added he has had several conversations with federal investigators. ), "I know," Jennings says. Deputies say they have a person of interest but have not released the person's name. In February, a prominent Idabel man was slain during a home invasion, and last weekend, an Arkansas man was stabbed to death in an apparent bar fight. In a Monday evening statement, the sheriff's office claimed the recording was "illegally obtained." Senat said under Oklahoma law, the recording would be legal if it were obtained in a place where the officials being recorded did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy. 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Oklahoma That Will Leave You Baffled 1. MCCURTAIN COUNTY, OK (KSLA) - McCurtain County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a deadly shooting. Manning then responds and mentions Chris by name. Last September, an investigative reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jeff German, was stabbed to death outside of his home. ]", Jennings says he knows where two "big deep holes" are if "you ever need them." Tickets should be still available at the door. Adair County Alfalfa County Atoka County Beaver County Beckham County Blaine County Bryan County Caddo County Canadian County Carter County Cherokee County Choctaw County s Authorities say the victim, who appeared to have died from multiple gunshot wounds, is a 46-year-old man from Oklahoma. The country has seen that truth and responded accordingly. "They bring no [inaudible. But there's also the matter of this same group conspiring genuine or otherwise to kill two of the journalists employed at the small, family newspaper headquartered in Idabel, Oklahoma, a town that lies geographically nearer to Little Rock and Dallas, and is just over an hour drive from Texarkana. All rights reserved. WebUP McCurtain County - Oklahoma Cold Cases Oklahoma Cold Cases Broken Bow John Doe 1983 Bethel John Doe 1989 All Rights Reserved Oklahoma Cold Cases Inc. Is a The state average was 7.8. OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma's governor is seeking the resignation of four county officials after a newspaper's audio recording apparently captured some of them complaining about two of the paper's journalists and knowing hit men and where two holes are dug. Tupac Shakur. "I was completely appalled and frightened, quite frankly," Bruce told News 9 referring to what was said during the recording. I talked on two different occasions to our attorneys to make sure I wasn't doing anything illegal, Bruce Willingham said. Two people were shot to death and another stabbed to death in November. McCurtain County is in far southeast Oklahoma, bordering both Arkansas and Texas, in a part of the state often referred to as Little Dixie, because of the influence in the area from white Southerners who migrated there after the Civil War. There was an interactive map covering press laws throughout the world. IDABEL - A McCurtain County jury has found a 19-year-old guilty of murdering two Wright City men and has recommended two death sentences. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is working a number of murders in rural parts of Oklahoma and many remain unsolved. They are the kind of crimes that most people move to the country to try to avoid. So, when murder strikes a small town it can really rattle a community. There's the case of a couple found shot to death on Christmas Day. According to the McCurtain Gazette-News, the story published over the weekend is the first in a planned series. McCurtain County John Doe, Discovered in Oklahoma in 1989. Many deaths that are investigated by the Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner remain as Unidentified Persons, due to decomposition, fire, injuries, Chris Willingham, a reporter at the paper, is Bruce Willingham's son. They are the kind of crimes that most people Kevin Stitt said in a statement to the Associated Press. And what was their story? Kirkbride, a former Wyoming rancher who died recently, will be honored through the work and performances of regional poets, including two cowboy poets. One event that lies close to my own heart was the killing of civilian journalist Paul Guihard in Oxford, Mississippi, when he was working as a photojournalist during James Meredith's integration to the then-racially segregated University of Mississippi. Oklahoma Serial Killers. McCurtain County John Doe, Discovered in Oklahoma in 1989. (Marston was the McCurtain County Sheriff in the 1980s, according to The Oklahoman. A McCurtain County man is in jail accused of first-degree murder after police say a man was killed and his body hidden. The event is a public plant swap and $50 "Plantiness Workshop," presented by Sunshine, Flydragon Art Studio, Cheyenne Botanic Gardens and Rooted in Cheyenne, among others. MCCURTAIN COUNTY, Okla. (KTAL/KMSS) There are new details in the arrest of a McCurtain County man, And he looked her in the face and said, 'You wanna go with me and go eat barbecue?'" Apr 14th Kim Lertjuntharangool, Missing from Colorado since 2021. Shannon Baldwin-Hokanson, Enid, 2012.. Shannon, a mother of 3, was last heard from The recording was taken after a March 6 county commissioners' meeting when county officials, including McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy, commissioner Mark Jennings, Sheriff's Investigator Alicia Manning and Trust Administrator Larry Hendrix were talking after the meeting, but did not know they were being recorded. Rhea Ochoa, Missing from Arizona since 1997. I had the pleasure of visiting the Newseum in Washington, D.C., before it closed in 2019, which has since been purchased by Johns Hopkins University to become classrooms, offices and event spaces because I'm sure D.C. needs more of those. The threats directed at the reporters of the McCurtain Gazette-News, a paper with no online outlet serving a county of roughly 30,000 people, are evidence that this is still a very possible outcome. Apr. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Saturday morning is the Earth Day Extravaganza at Sunshine Plant Co. This is Leah Rochelle Mahseet: Leah was 16 years old when she was last seen alive in Geary, Oklahoma on September 14th, 1997. Just before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, a passerby called authorities reporting someone was lying in the road just outside Hayworth on Goodwater Highway. They got more rights than we got.". Mullendore was beaten and shot to death on his ranch in Osage County back in 1970. WebFive persons one of a boy of four years and one an infant were shot to death by Aaron (Red) Harvey, 21, and John Pope, 45, on the night of April 26, 1923 in a small "Take them down to Mud Creek and hang them up with a damn rope. A southeast Oklahoma newspaper has released the full audio recording it captured of county officials talking about killing journalists and lynching Black people. Obviously, racist and violent ideologies can be found in any barbershop, diner, bar or closed circle, but it's a scary thing to see not just as a journalist, but as a human being who was hoping that such recourse among leadership in America had been overcome. Apr 14th Vincent Gorman, Missing from Arizona since 2004. The first known journalist to be killed for their work on U.S. soil was Elijah Parish Lovejoy, who was murdered by a pro-slavery mob in 1837 for supporting the abolition of slavery. WebUncovereds website is home to unsolved homicides, such as the 1996 murder of Jody LeCornu, the 2019 murder o f Najah Ferrell, and the 2017 double-murder of Abigail "Yeah, but here's the reality," Manning responds. Copyright 2015 KSLA. 20It's hard to sit at my desk and contain my emotions as I watch the story unfold out of McCurtain County, Oklahoma. "McCurtain County is always at the top, if not No. Earlier today, April 30, 2021, two arrest warrants for murder were obtained for James Henry Elrod III. If youre interested in true crime, most likely you may also be "And then the medical examiner asked her, said, 'Hey we're fixing to go eat.' As a highly publicized case in 2018, it's best to read about it on your own. "I know that other than Oklahoma City and Tulsa, my district is right up there.". The prime suspect in the unsolved murder of E.C. Unidentified Persons - Oklahoma Cold Cases Unidentified Persons are organized by county. All my life, we've always said we don't get enough recognition in southeast Oklahoma, Dempsey said. ", "Every Oklahoman has the right to live in safety and freedom without fear of injustice from local, state or national authorities," he continued. "This should be a reminder that we are all defined by who we are in private and in public.". Originally assigned to document Meredith's enrollment, Guihard soon turned his focus to the riot that broke out on campus. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association announced that Clardy, Manning and Hendrix were suspended from the association. German had published a series of articles reporting on "claims of bullying, hostility and mismanagement at the Clark County's public administrator's office," wrote the Review-Journal. Unsolved Mccurtain County Murders. The McCurtain County Sheriff's Office and Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case. WebThe Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is working a number of murders in rural parts of Oklahoma and many remain unsolved. I'm gonna tell you something. Another great resource is Project: Cold Case, who, in partnership with the Murder Accountability Project, produced a comprehensive list of all of the unsolved homicides in each state from 1980-2019. According to this list, there were around 11,922 murders in Oklahoma during that nearly 40-year time frame. For $12, residents get the silent movie experience with a screening of four Laurel & Hardy films, featuring live musical accompaniment by Dave Niemann. His name has not been released at this time. "Crime is a bad problem and meth is a big part of it," Sanders said. The county has experienced five homicides in the last five months. Shakur was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in 1996, which led to his death six days later. After the paper released the audio, protests began outside of the Board of County Commissioners office. Well, It's not like that nomore," Clardy responds. Gov. Tonight is another Tobler and Friends Comedy Night at Black Tooth Brewing Co. The weekend concludes with the long-awaited Alan Kirkbride Memorial Poetry Gathering at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum. Mar 23rd. WebWJ Edwards 2-15-39, Convicted of Murder Story 1: Two Are Held in City Death, Shots Blamed on Robbery Fear Two men were held in the city jail Monday and funeral arrangements completed for a third as the aftermath of a shooting Sunday night in a one-room house at 129 West Chickasaw Avenue, Services for [] According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Allen Shaw, 89, and Randy Sander, 65, have been charged with Second Degree Murder and Arson in connection to Stoewe's death. Change my address on my handgun license? On Wednesday morning, Jennings resigned from his position as commissioner, News 9 reports. "I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County," Oklahoma Gov. MCCURTAIN COUNTY, OK (KSLA) - McCurtain County Sheriff's deputies are investigatinga deadly shooting. McCurtain County's per capita income for 2001 was $18,803, which ranked 55th in Oklahoma, according to state Commerce Department statistics. But the numbers for Cimarron and Jefferson counties appear inflated by a suicide rate where those counties stand first and second. Ian Henry, In the recording, Clardy said authorities wrapped her body in tinfoil to preserve it, then Jennings asked if "she'd come apart?" Oklahoma County had 12.5 homicides per 100,000 from 1992 to 2001, and Tulsa County had 8.2. The number of journalists who have been attacked or threatened is even larger. The museum featured a room lined with every Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, an archive of authentic newspapers containing articles of events from the end of the Civil War and the sinking of the Titanic, to the assassination of president John F. Kennedy and the Boston Marathon bombing. I was shocked as I assume most people were not only about the comments about journalists, but the racist comments regarding African Americans. For music fans, The Lincoln Theatre is hosting its second installment of the Local Music Showcase series. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. "I've been in this office since 1988 and it's so much busier than it has ever been. "A lot of our violence statistics are related to poverty, so some of this may be related to income levels, some of it may be related to gun ownership.". Throughout the 1980s, multiple journalists of ethnic publications were murdered for their coverage. 20It's hard to sit at my desk and contain my emotions as I watch the story unfold out of McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Girl, Caretaker Accused of Killing 4-Year-Old on Christmas, Missing Texas Woman Is Found Dead After Planning to Confront Boyfriend About Him Being Married, released portions of the audio recording and a transcription, County Commissioner for District 2 since November 2020, the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association announced. There is simply no place for such hateful rhetoric in the state of Oklahoma, especially by those that serve to represent the community through their respective office., The McCurtain Gazette-News released portions of an audio recording following a March 6 county commission meeting in which Clardy, Manning and Jennings appear to discuss reporters Bruce and Chris Willingham. If you would like to look further into the number of murders in Oklahoma by year, you may visit the websites of many local, state, and federal law enforcement organizations, who often times publish comprehensive reports with more information about the crimes committed in that area over specific time frames. Updated: Sep 19, 2019 / 07:00 PM CDT. I am both appalled and disheartened to hear of the horrid comments made by officials in McCurtain County," Stitt said in a statement. Jarrod Ramos killed five employees of The Capital Gazette in Annapolis because the paper had published a story about his guilty plea in a criminal harassment case in 2011. Actually, McCurtain County's 20.5 homicides per 100,000 population is well ahead of the Oklahoma City or Tulsa areas. "Since November things have been insane in McCurtain County," District Attorney Virginia Sanders said. Morrison John Doe, Discovered in Colorado in 1977. None of the four returned telephone calls or emails from The Associated Press on Monday seeking comment. During the ensuing discussion, her wrapped remains were compared to barbecued food. Oklahoma's southeastern-most county recorded 71 homicides from 1992 to 2001, according to figures released recently by the state Health Department. In McCurtain County, a $5,000 reward is being offered for help solving Crystal Kindrick's disappearance. McCurtain is a distant 27th in the state. Meanwhile, over at the Historic Atlas Theatre, Cheyenne Little Theatre Players is spearheading two nights of Silent Movies at the Atlas. Kevin Stitt said Sunday he was seeking the resignations of McCurtain County Sheriff Kevin Clardy and three other county officials: sheriffs Capt. In Oklahoma County, there are 500 unsolved murders, some dating by to the 1950s. Jennings then brings up the idea of hitmen, saying, "I've known two or three hitmen, they're very quiet guys and would cut no f-----g mercy.". This list was last updated on July 19, 2022. All rights reserved. But I've had coworkers that have reported on issues not dissimilar from some listed above, and that is reason enough to reflect on the subject. 1, in firearm-related injuries and homicides," said Sue Mallonee, the Health Department's longtime chief of injury prevention. "Bless her heart," Clardy continued. The whole conversation seemed deplorable, Senat said. If it was back in the day, when Alan Marston would take a damn Black guy and whoop their ass and throw him in the cell? Its most notable towns include Idabel (population 7,040), Broken Bow (4,280), Wright City (860) and Valliant (780). Gov. The event begins at 2 p.m. Sunday. I'll save those comments for you to research yourself. Mar 23rd Eric McKay, Missing from Ontario since 1987. Perhaps the most important piece was the memorial section a display of hundreds of journalists who had been killed while on assignment worldwide. Mar 23rd Morrison John Doe, Discovered in Colorado in 1977. The McCurtain Gazette-News, a print-only newspaper, released portions of the audio recording and a transcription along with the front-page expos over the weekend. Clardy said, "So we get her in the body bag and Kyler goes, 'You do know what we gotta do now, right?' "Yeah. Editors note: Over 20 years, from 2000 to 2019, there were 4,177 murders in Oklahoma, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Clardy responds, "I've got an excavator.". I'd run for f-----g sheriff.". The cover of "Facing September," a murder mystery based on the case of Kelly Lynn Albright's murder. The news also inspired me to Google a question I hadn't thought to ask prior the events in Oklahoma: how many journalists have been murdered on U.S. soil? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Mar 24th. Oklahoma County had 12.5 homicides per 100,000 from 1992 to 2001, and Tulsa County had 8.2. He can be reached by email at wcarpenter@wyomingnews.com or by phone at 307-633-3135. "Well, these are already pre-dug," Jennings responds. McCurtain County also leads the state in injuries related to firearms for a 2 1/2-year period from January 2001 to June. Renowned comedian and Cheyenne native Brandt Tobler is once again bringing his comedian friends to the stage at a local favorite brewery. It ranks second in firearm deaths on a per capita basis, behind Cimarron County and ahead of Jefferson County. Apr 14th Oswald Bear, Missing from Manitoba since 1969. In December a man was charged in the death of a 12-year-old girl who disappeared in 1999, and Sanders said another 8-month-old homicide was solved a few weeks ago. According to News 9, the recording was taken after Bruce Willingham the father of Chris Willingham left his recorder in the meeting in an attempt to prove officials were conducting business in secret, which would be in violation of the state's Open Meeting Act, the Associated Press reports. The county also is a state leader in deaths and injuries by firearms. Phone Numbers 863 Phone Numbers 863647 Phone But you can't do that anymore. A McCurtain County, Okla., newspaper released an audio recording where county officials including the sheriff are allegedly heard discussing killing journalists, lynching Black people and hiring hitmen. He had just attended a boxing Jennings, who has been County Commissioner for District 2 since November 2020, started to discuss people wanting to run for sheriff. PEOPLE has reviewed the audio, but is unable to independently verify the speakers. Jennings tells Clardy and Manning I know where two deep holes are dug if you ever need them, and the sheriff responded, I've got an excavator., Jennings also said he's known two or three hit men in Louisiana, adding "they're very quiet guys., In the recording, Jennings also appears to complain about not being able to hang Black people, saying: They got more rights than we got.. The state average was 7.8. Will Carpenter, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne, For only the second time in its history, the US Navy is beginning the slow, tricky process of taking apart a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, A Towering, Terrifying Demon Horse Isnt Even the Weirdest Part, Man who lost wife, son in Texas mass shooting tells story, Roman Polanski and the woman he pleaded guilty to raping pose together 45 years later, Hunter Biden appears in court for paternity case, March of Dimes walk looks to raise money for families facing pregnancy scares, Popular Mobile Games You Must Play In 2023, US readies second attempt at speedy border asylum screenings. "I don't know what the answer is.". The category includes assaults, accidents and suicides. James H. Tillman after being critical of his personal conduct and political policy. "We've got her on the Web site, we've got her on McCurtain County has a population of about 34,800. The co-founder and editor of The State newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, Narciso Gender Gonzales, was shot and killed by then-state Lt. Gov. According to the McCurtain Gazette-News, Stoewe ran inside her home while it was engulfed in flames in an attempt to rescue her pets. Stoewe and her two dogs perished in the fire, which was allegedly set by two men. OSBI says 27-year-old Gary Dixon has been Bruce Willingham, the longtime publisher of the McCurtain Gazette-News, said the recording was made March 6 when he left a voice-activated recorder inside the room after a county commissioner's meeting because he suspected the group was continuing to conduct county business after the meeting had ended in violation of the state's Open Meeting Act. She was last seen at about 9:10 pm that night at a gas station on the north end of town, merely 100 yards from her home. WebAccess the Sexual Assault Kit Tracking system? I'm one to talk, since I have the pleasure of reporting on the arts. Joking doesnt excuse that.. He goes, 'You gotta pre-heat the oven 350 degrees, leave her in there for 15 minutes,' and she went [vomit sounds, then laughter.]". This weekend, Kevin Hawkins was murdered in the parking lot of the Lewiston Apartments at 51st Street and Lewis Avenue. Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles was arrested and charged with German's murder, for which he will stand trial on Nov. 6. Saturday night invites local rock bands to the stage, including Angelus Errare, Stay Awhile, Union Goons, We the Few, YOTP and Hell's Half Acre. I clearly remember watching a family of tourists search for the restrictions in their home country, then responding with a plain "Oh ". McCurtain County deputies investigating deadly shooting, Thousands without power in Shreveport-Bossier after bush hog hits pole. Commanding the majority of the weekend is the Cheyenne Gaming Convention, beginning Friday afternoon. "If a hair on his wife's head, Chris Willingham's head or any of those people that really were behind that, if any hair on their head got touched by anybody, who would be the bad guy?". The newspaper has filed a lawsuit against the sheriff's office seeking body camera footage and other records connected to Barrick's death. Just before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, a passerby called ", In a statement, U.S. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma said, "The recorded comments from community leaders in McCurtain County are reprehensible and embarrassing for the county and our state. "They are insignificant in my life, really," Manning says. The officials laugh again. The common thread among this memorial and the accounts listed above is that journalists have, and will continue to face the ultimate repercussion for reporting on individuals abusing their power. Well, I couldn't find the answer to the first question, though I did gather that it's over 40 individuals. The most prominent of these killings were five Vietnamese-American journalists Tried Le, Nhan Wrong Do, Tap Van Pham, Nguyen Dam Phong and Duong Trong Lam. A Los Angeles citizen-reporter named James Edwin Richards was shot in his driveway for his local crime reporting, with the Los Angeles Police Department reporting that "Mr. Richards had received threats from local gang members, and his property was often vandalized prior to his murder.". The state average was 24.4 firearms-related injuries per 100,000 population. Mar 23rd. Apply for or renew a handgun license? This is in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Eastern Oklahoma. David Lewis, Unsolved Murder from Oklahoma in 2017. Girl, 2, Was Carried Out of House by Mom While 'Asleep or Unconscious' Before Vanishing, Oklahoma Man Gets Life in Prison for Murders, Including Cutting Out and Cooking Woman's Heart, 3 Dead, 3 Injured After Shooting Involving 'Several Biker Gangs' at Oklahoma Bar: Police, Family Says Black Man Was Found Decapitated in Mississippi, Believes He Was Targeted by 'Lynch Mob', 7 Virginia Deputies Charged in Death of Man Who Was Allegedly 'Smothered' in Custody, Tornadoes in 3 States Leave 1 Dead and Nearly a Dozen Injured: 'Praying for Oklahomans Impacted', Missing Woman Found Possibly Dismembered in Texas; Suspect Allegedly Searched 'How to Be a Serial Killer', Authorities Identify Remains as Missing Athena Brownfield 2 Weeks After Sister Was Found Wandering Alone, Pa. Police Arrest 'Supposed' Friend, Business Partner in Death of Mom Found in Shallow Grave, Texas Woman Charged After Husband Dies of 'Suspicious Illness,' Previously Investigated in Ex-Husband's Death, Everything to Know About Philadelphia Eagles Player Josh Sills and His Legal Controversies, Texas Man Accused of Murdering Girlfriend Who Planned to Confront Him About Being Married, Remains Found amid Search for Missing Okla. The three day event, covered previously in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle, gives attendees the chance to frolic through any and every variation of game for the entirety of the convention's run. According to the McCurtain Gazette-News, the conversation later turned to Bruce and Chris Willingham, a father-and-son reporter duo from the paper. With its rolling, forested hills in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, the area has become a tourism hotbed attracting a steady stream of visitors from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. First, there's the content of everything that the members of the McCurtain County Sheriff's Office and McCurtain County Board of County Commissioners discussed during an illegal meeting a stretch of audio that would fit well as an archived recording from the jailhouse of a pre-civil rights "sundown town." But we don't need this kind of recognition., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. KANSAS: In 1970, 12-year-old Kelly Lynn Albright went missing and was found dead in a field in Reno County. Jurors deliberated about two hours late Tuesday before finding Michael Delozier guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. Kevin Stitt is calling for the resignations of four officials in southeast Oklahoma after a newspaper's audio recording apparently captured some of them talking of knowing hit men and complaining about two of the paper's journalists. Mar 23rd. A homicide is a killing and can be either intentional, such as murder, or unintentional, such as manslaughter.