David was shot 11 times and Sheryl 14. It is like a fairy tale now. . And over the years, when we went back and started looking for those things, the OSBI couldnt locate them. WebAccording to the most recent data from the FBI, the total crime rate in Norman is 2,867.6 per 100,000 people. They just couldnt get past the death penalty portion., Recording of Brake: I think there were people on that jury who said I believe he did it but I can not send him to the electric chair When NPD first contacted me back then and said they were going to try and revitalize the case and they started running through all the material again, I remember sitting down there in the homicide office down in Norman with the file sitting on the desk between us saying Its great what you guys are doing but I dont think you can nail him. On March 8, 1972, the grand jury met for the first time in Cleveland County to listen to witness testimonies and decide if there were any charges that could be filed against Gilley or if there was mishandling they could hold the local law agencies accountable for. And now I can talk about it without breaking down and crying. Recording of Linda: When something like this happens, you feel like, What could I do? And the neighbor across the street had gone to OU So I called her and explained that you know Sherry went on this date last night, and she isnt home yet. Maybe altered and those things would be extremely difficult to occur today based on the procedures that are in place.. A few days after he came here, to the state crime bureau for a polygraph test. WebGet full property details, plus crime rates, environmental hazards, natural disaster risks and more at HomeDisclosure.com 145441690. Sloans ex-girlfriend, who helped find the car after Ben Benham reported his daughter missing, told the jury she drove to the lovers lane area and happened upon the car, but left and reported it to police when she realized there was blood in the front seat and she smelled what she described in news articles as the smell of death. The medical examiner explained in detail how Dave and Sheryl died, both shot over 10 times, including bullets fired directly into each of their eyes. And its important to remember here that Gilley left the Norman police force on May 15. Recording of Linda: I would just love to look him straight in the face and say What happened? Recording of Ken: I dont know. The case is almost 50 years old and remains unsolved. Grady. What really happened? WebAbout 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City, the Norman Police Department responded Sunday night to storm damage on the south and eastern sides of Norman. In the safe we found some more weapons, one of them was a sawed-off shotgun, which is illegal. A Daily staffer began flipping through pages in our large, dusty archive books. Recording of Kayla: Is that difficult to do?, Recording of Brake: Let me tell you, its not difficult to do for a true sociopath., K: Ex-policeman appears victim of hate plot, headlines a June 2, 1970 article in the Norman Transcript. He has an old binder with newspaper clippings, police reports and photos he took of the crime scene when it was discovered. Yes, he had a badge in a black badge holder that was for the sheriffs office.. Recording of Brake: Well the second one, the guys at the Norman Police Department really wanted to solve the darn thing. Henslee claimed that he had gotten a letter of recommendation from one of Gilleys old bosses, but OSBI agent Ken Jacobson said when case detectives asked him to show them the letter, he couldnt find it. Im Kayla Branch and at the end of episode three, investigators had taken testimonies from 14 young adults who came forward claiming Frank Gilley had harassed them while they parked on lovers lanes. K: This was the same polygraph Henslee had Gilley take shortly after the murders, the test Henslee said proved Gilleys innocence. He then cut the body up into a hundred pieces and cooked and ate from them for days. She was just, oh, well-respected, very intelligent, just you know My dad was a very strict father, but he, uh, you just knew what to do and what not to do.. When we found Lindas phone number and reached out to her, she had reservations about telling her story to another set of reporters, but she became an invaluable source, sharing personal details from a family struck with tragedy. Six: Why Gilley was allowed to resign days after the murders? Be He moved to Edmond as an administrator for the Edmond Police Department and died in May 1999. Heres a quote about Sher right there: She loved life and lived to make people happy. Dr. Bailey said he told her young friends that detailing her high moral character and firm Christian beliefs, then urged the crowd especially the young to trust in God. There is a picture of him in a 1969 OU yearbook with his racket. Investigators said Bill Henslee, the Norman police chief at the time, wanted to make sure this case didnt reflect poorly on him or the department. I think he just thought it was embarrassing to have the guy being investigated.. Recording of Ken: So we showed them photographs and they picked Gilley We ended up with seven couples, 14 kids, that picked Gilleys picture out that claimed this had happened to them on Lovers Lane.. FIND A FACILITY. The grand jury Sheryls father had requested would finally convene. Recording of Pearo: You could see some of the resentment from people who are now adults still going back to their college days and being really critical on the police. When Gilley started work for the Norman police, he was described by other officers as just having shown up one day. Gilley had taken his first polygraph a few days after the murders and when Henslee said he passed, Gilley packed up his bags and left the force. The He said the politics were too much, that true policing was impossible because of it. Theyd see Gilleys pictures in the papers, on TV Amarillos not that big of a town. Jacobson also testified. Having a conversation with Gilley in reference to his activities when he was a deputy sheriff in Amarillo, he told me of several investigations he had made and also relayed to me that during patrolling for our police department, he asked where any parkers went. 112 GREAT OAKS DR, NORMAN, OK 73071 Property Report 145441690 A suspect is in custody, the sheriff's office in Tate County, Mississippi, Its every single step we take in our evidence transfer or testing or anything and is logged in a computer system. Police were spread thin. That's -25.38% lower than the national rate of 387.8 per 100,000 people. Then here we can and were visiting it again, making the news again. Why?, Recording of Brake: I think Gilley was just out there trying to get a glimpse of some boobies and harass some kids like hed done many times before and runs into somebody that knew who he was.. You know You had this last so where is it?. Get full property details, plus crime rates, environmental hazards, natural disaster risks and more at HomeDisclosure.com 202371154. K: A few months into the investigation, detectives persuaded Henslee to give Gilley a second polygraph test. TWO FOUND DEAD IN TRUNK. Those five words, in large bold font, headlined a story on the bottom right corner of the May 12 front page. Recording of Linda: Ken Jacobson, I remember that name a lot. Recording of Pearo: Its always a let down. Hes got a big smile, seems confident. She told them he was home with her, but later recanted her statement, saying she didnt know exactly where he was. And they did a good job, far as cleaning it up and everything.. K: Welcome back to Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders. Many, if not most should be considered armed and dangerous. K: Youre listening to Uncovered: the Lovers Lane Murders. K: Back to that Tuesday in 1970: the OU protest ended peacefully, but police and residents were on edge for the rest of the week. Recording of Brake: 200 people. Because of his mistrust in the intentions of other officers as the case unfolded through the years, Jacobson held onto it until he presented it in 1990 as the lone remaining piece of evidence. Recording of Foster: One, we have basic requirements of age. Davids mom raised him and her other children on her own, according to Linda. Theres a large backyard shaded by multiple trees. The explanation that Gilley was being framed ended up as somewhat of the official stance of the police department. The OSBIs Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program and State Incident-Based Reporting System (SIBRS) are part of a nationwide, cooperative statistical effort This one kind of absorbs you. I call, my dad picks up the phone. WebForty years ago this month, Oklahoma suffered one of its most horrific murder scenes near the small town of Locust Grove. 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 [] It may have been almost 50 years since the murders, but Linda said it rarely feels that long. NORMAN, Okla. (KOKH) Police identified the suspect in a homicide and officer-involved shooting in Norman that happened earlier this month. Fraternity parties always being what they were, I suspect David had a few beers., Recording of Jacobson: They tell us David was a hot head and David said youre not the sheriff. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Norman is 1 in 316 and property crime is 1 in 32. I asked him why and he relayed to me that when he was in Amarillo, he went and would bust the parkers up and make them get out of the car and harass them and then let them go. Recording of Ken: Henslee set it up and at that time, we werent sure if Henslee was for us or against us. I said my dad has been in Norman all day. He was only on the force for three years, mostly focused on this one case. -36.90% lower than the Oklahoma violent crime rate of 458.6 per 100,000 people. There would have been music, talking, some drinking, maybe dancing. It was pretty tough. K: After finding the car and the bodies, officers from all of the agencies came together to sweep the area. Born on Dec. 28, 1935, he was in his mid-30s during the early 1970s. Recording of Linda: Early the next morning, my sister had not come home and we knew something was wrong I remember my mother shaking me saying, Linda, Linda. Im like, What? She said, Have you heard from Sherry? Im like, What are you talking about? And I begin to hear all this, She never came home last night. My very first thought was Oh my god, Sherry, are you in trouble now. My dad was gone before daylight driving to Norman. I was able to talk to my supervisor, went up the chain and went to the chief and said Hey look, can we maybe open this case back up and take another look at it, see where we can go with it? He said yeah, but go to the DAs office and talk things over with him.. He hoped to become director of the OSBI, Jacobson said, and a mark like this on someones record could derail a rising career. Munoz told investigators he last saw Sanchez in May of 2020 when Sanchez was trying to get into the house uninvited, according to the search warrant affidavit. I think before when it was brought up, I still hurt so bad and my emotions. Oklahomas Failure to Protect law treats those who enable child abuse the same as actual abusers. Recording of Pearo: In February of 1990, just out of the blue, the old landlord for where Frank Gilley, where he used to live.. I think dad was with him for a long time with what was going on He was so honest and wanted justice done. Because you know her parents were there. NOTES: GRADY CO But agents like Ken Jacobson didnt believe that and kept investigating. I did not see the flashlight myself, but as he was shoving me out the door, my head hit the door. The call came from a TV station in Amarillo, Texas, a few days after the murders. And now I can talk about it without breaking down and crying. Recording of Ken: Well Frank and Henslee and the sheriff were all buddies from out there and so we asked Henslee if we could take a look at that letter and he couldnt produce it. They began to feel the full weight of frustration that only a couple of guys were truly working together to bring down a case held back by politics. Mr. Gilley asked him another question and the boy answered it. But the DA at that time was adamant that the case was going to go to trial with what we had because, you know, the case wasnt improving. Before Green died, Gilley had come back to investigators claiming that Green had something to do with the murders of Sheryl and David. Now detectives believed themselves to be without any physical evidence. Before she left that house, she turned to my mother and said, Here mom, heres your Mothers Day present early the next day was Mothers Day. He was going to drive to Amarillo, Texas, and kill him. Date: 2/28 #1 DRIVING W/ LICENSE CANC/SUSP/REVOKED. NORMAN Cory Jay Bodily was killed in 2008. WebThis Cleveland County Oklahoma Most Wanted List posts the top 50-100 fugitive criminals on the run. Alex Murdaugh speaks with his attorney during his double murder trial at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, S.C., Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. Now he is not working at this time. But one officer leaves just four days after the murders. Recording of Brake: There was no official record at any check in Texas to indicate that Gilley had ever made contact with Sloan, officially. He had a .22 caliber rifle in his locker at the Norman Police Department and also has several pistols of this caliber in his residence in Norman. WebCrime Map. At the end of episode two, we first heard the name Frank Gilley as a possible suspect in the murders of Sheryl Benham and David Sloan in early May of 1970. Enhanced Cost of Living Calculator Now includes childcare, taxes, health, housing for home owners vs renters, insurance costs and more when you upgrade to premium. And theyre almost all headshots at that point. An article almost 15 years later cites the grand jurys final decision, saying, We have investigated any and all complaints against the district attorney or his office and find them without merit., Recording of Ken: Some people just couldnt believe that a police officer had done something like this and of course I didnt believe it at first. Recording of Ken: Im thrilled that somebody is still interested enough in it to try to put something together, thats why I didnt hesitate to meet with yall. The last known report was on April 16, 2018, investigators said. So got a lot of fire power.. And then he goes on duty and comes back in the police car and finishes them off., Recording of Brake: And you notice there were a couple bullet holes in the fenders of the car. A Norman man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a Wellston woman whose remains were found at Lake Thunderbird, the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation reported Wednesday. K: Ballistics tests had come back negative for guns collected from a search of Gilleys home in November 1990, when officers found a sawed-off shotgun and tried to connect it with the murders of David and Sheryl. WebCrime rate in Norman, Oklahoma (OK): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map Crime rate in Of the 249 murders, 139 were cleared by arrest or exceptional means, yielding a 55.8% clearance rate. So you can get on our little system and see where something is so if something goes missing and then you would have the person transferring the evidence or the criminal list that has the evidence so something goes missing, it would be pretty easy to go in there and pinpoint. Weve got pictures of them but thats it. We had talked about wanting to devote resources to an investigative piece, and what unfolded left us determined to tell the stories of not only of those who died, but really about those who spent their lives with the case and how police at the local and state level conduct investigations. We never found anyone from Daves family to speak to like this, so we were given a much clearer look at the Benham family from Lindas vivid recollections of almost 50 years ago. SpotCrime crime details. Grady 2 Views. The National Guard was called in to contain the crowd, and shots were fired when students wouldnt disperse. When he arrived, he was arrested. Detectives are actively completing a thorough and detailed investigation. She looks like she died almost immediately. Due to the current status of the case, information is limited at this time, Jensen said. He asked me if Id ever had sexual intercourse. K: The caliber of the weapon that killed Dave and Sheryl. I think when you ask around about other places or just other people that are in this profession when they talk about getting hired at Norman youll learn that our process is a lot harder and a lot more scrutinizing than a lot of places We still do psychological testing. They patted each other on the back, good to see you, and all that stuff. K: Jacobson, who had been involved with the case from the very morning the bodies were found, was happy another set of investigators would take up where he left off. Months went by without a response or a jury. The verdict was inevitable in my opinion. Because those guys werent even policemen when this thing happened. Get to know their families and the rural Norman road that is just the beginning of the unsolved mystery. Come on home. So I hung up. NORMAN Investigators arrested a man in connection with the death of a woman whose remains were found at Lake Thunderbird last Monday. 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