Sarah Jensen, a spokeswoman for the Norman Police Department, said the investigation is active and ongoing. Now detectives believed themselves to be without any physical evidence. Recording of Ken: There was just like half a dozen guys on the police department that would even talk to us. Recording of Linda: Well, she loved her job I love, theres this one picture of Sherri, she looked so cute she had the little red skirt and the white top, you know, and she was just so cute in it.. Based on a tip, investigators discovered Sandovols decomposing body in a residential basement at 715 W Lindsey St. Detectives interviewed Miguel Munoz at the home, according to an affidavit for a search warrant. And then all of a sudden one day, he said he found it. Splashed along the front pages of newspapers and TV station headlines were two words: not guilty. He had showed me all of these at one time or another and also offered to loan them to me. There was a carnival coming to town and classes were ending soon, so students were hosting parties. According to newspaper articles in the Norman Transcript from that first week, David was set to graduate the upcoming December with a business administration degree and then be commissioned through the Naval ROTC. Recording of Ken: It turns out, there werent that many people working toward the same goal., Recording of Brake: Frank Gilley did it. David was shot 11 times and Sheryl 14. Officers with assault charges arent usually allowed to continue policing. Back to Brake reading Bodens statement: Recording of Brake: We watched it go down and when it was down, we were still there for a few minutes and a car drove by and I didnt see it but Rick did. 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. But one officer leaves just four days after the murders. Of course Gilley passed the polygraph and we didnt get to talk to him or anything.. In the following months, officers deliberated how best to pin Gilley down for the murders. It would be the publics first look at new details and theories regarding the case. Why? So if you come across something at a department where something may have beentried to be swept under the rug because the department didnt want to look bad, the current chief or sheriff didnt want to look bad for whatever reason you might think that happens. When Davids mom arrived at the Benham house later that Sunday, Linda decided she was going to leave for Norman to see if she could help find Sheryl. He has an old binder with newspaper clippings, police reports and photos he took of the crime scene when it was discovered. For Linda, talking openly about her sister is something thats relatively new. Recording of Foster: Back then a lot more of that stuff what went on. WebCBS News Six people were killed in a series of shootings Friday in northwestern Mississippi, authorities said. Well start back up with thoughts from Linda, Recording of Kayla: Now what does that mean?, Recording of Pearo: Because of the way it was handled back in the 70s and the fact that the main suspect had been a Norman officer. About 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. Crime Rate per 100,000 Pop. The National Guard was called in to contain the crowd, and shots were fired when students wouldnt disperse. Once completed, we will present the case to the District Attorneys office, who will review the case and file the appropriate charges., Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. Yes, he had a badge in a black badge holder that was for the sheriffs office.. And they said Well Mr. Gilley, Im standing here in your living room and it looks like somebody broke into your house.. The state Medical Examiners Office confirmed the body as that of Sandoval. K: This was the same polygraph Henslee had Gilley take shortly after the murders, the test Henslee said proved Gilleys innocence. K: Undeterred by the two passed polygraphs, investigators kept digging. K: Sheryls mom died in 1995 and her dad in 2001. Its seized, its packaged. Sheryl graduated from Putnam City High School in 1969 and was living in Oklahoma City with her parents, her older sister Linda and Lindas oldest son. About 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. Well we thought that was unusual because Frank lived in Amarillo.. The two stayed there for an unknown amount of time. WebCrime Statistics. As the night hours of May 9 wear on, Sheryls dadbecomes worried. 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. Sheryl met David Sloan at Steak and Ale, a restaurant in Oklahoma City where they both worked. But again, a guy has knowledge of firearms would pick a .22 to use, you know, all you have to worry about is that firing pin, and if you throw the gun in the river, the evidence is gone. I know who you are, youre Frank Gilley, Recording of Brake: So what I think happened is they stopped there to make some whoopie, and I think maybe Sherry was already undressed when Gilley approached. We still do a complete background on these people talking to everybody looking at everything. The Girl Scout Murders of 1977 still remains unsolved to Recording of Pearo: The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, because they had helped out on the murder investigation as well and theyre the ones that have the labs and everything in the state of Oklahoma, so the evidence was all turned over the the OSBI. Did Henslee know about the assault charge? The call came from a TV station in Amarillo, Texas, a few days after the murders. On Nov. 21, 1990, officers were able to search Gilleys residence. Recording of Ken: Well it was open but they didnt do anything on it The agent that was signed to that after I left, I doubt if he did half a dozen interviews. He was tall with thick brown hair and a lean build. K: Next time on Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders. Dave Pearo and some of those guys, they really wanted to go after it.. K: Youre listening to Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders. According to the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office, 30-year-old Austin Blake Godwin was booked into the Cleveland County jail early Wednesday, shortly after surrendering himself at the Norman The phrase good ol boys was repeated to me several times. Investigators said Sandoval at one time was placed in Griffin Memorial Hospital for mental health treatment, and on Feb. 17, 2018 she filed a report with Norman police stating Sanchez and his wife were abusing her. Recording of Brake: 200 people. Five days later, a few miles west of OUs campus, shots were fired again, ending the lives of two college students. A monthslong extradition fight began, ending in May 1991 with Gilley being brought to the Cleveland County jail. The twister tossed vehicles around including one on top of another. Police identified the murder suspect as Isis McMullen. NOTES: STEPHENS CO. More Info. WebIn 2019, Oklahoma law enforcement reported 249 murders. He told me that he still keeps an eye out for talk of the murders, mentioning in particular a message board where he saw people talking about the case. When Gilley started work for the Norman police, he was described by other officers as just having shown up one day. K: He kept the Benhams updated on the case. The case is almost 50 years old and remains unsolved. Video source: Dylan Strilko/WEATHER TRAKER /TMX. Date: 2/28 #1 DRIVING W/ LICENSE CANC/SUSP/REVOKED. Recording of Brake: Henslee, basically, hired Gilley on friendship because Henslee had been in law enforcement in Texas where Gilley was.. Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders is a five-part investigative podcast into the murders of two teenagers in Norman, Oklahoma in 1970. K: They lived in a house off of Northwest 46th Street, a main road in Oklahoma City. She did have a couple of chest wounds, but there was not a lot of bleeding internally in that. Its not that we know everything and that the other side of that is us hearing it but its that the public is coming to us and telling us because in the past, a lot of people didnt, it didnt affect them they didnt care or if it was affecting them they was too afraid to come to the police because theys like Ill just be in more trouble if I try to tell them were doing some wrong. Recording of Linda: I would just love to look him straight in the face and say What happened? Ended up, I dont know how many days and nights we first worked on that, several, and now 48 years later, its terrible.. Said hes shoot rabbits with it and stuff. Recording of Pearo: And he told us where hed gotten it. And theres probably a million cases like that This one is really unique in that it involved a police officer and I think that if we had had 100 percent cooperation from the get go, that we could have cleared it., K: It wasnt until 1972 that the case seemed like it might pick back up again. We flipped through the following days, seeing article after article following police officials and community groups. He hoped to become director of the OSBI, Jacobson said, and a mark like this on someones record could derail a rising career. One of them was Butch Green, who had ridden with Frank, who gave the statement that Frank did in fact carry a .22 rifle on duty in the car. Detectives are actively completing a thorough and detailed investigation. Crime news across America. . We got out there and the polygrapher is an old Texas Ranger, one of Hensleys buddies. Gilley was white, 5-foot-8 and close to 180 pounds. Recording of Linda: She also loved her first nephew, my son that was living there with us She was just crazy about him She had, believe it or not, she had a blue Mustang, a baby blue Mustang. Four students were killed and nine others were wounded. 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. The only thing we had to work with was the shell casing that had been ejected, and the firing pin makes a distinct impression on the shell casing, and this one was unusual But we could never match them. The articles mention the relationship between Henslee and Gilley, that they had worked numerous cases together when Henslee was a Texas Ranger assigned to Pampa, Texas and Gilley was still in Potter County, about an hour southwest. It was pretty tough. Im Kayla Branch. K: Boden and her date Rick had been west of Norman, in the same area that David and Sheryl were just 30 days earlier. When you read Davids autopsy report, you find massive right hemoral thorax. K: 1970. Pearo and his fellow investigators would drive to Dallas frequently, watching Gilleys house, following him to work, trying to put together enough evidence to arrest him. Jacobson and a few other agents, like Norman detective Floyd Nash, dedicated themselves to finding enough hard proof to convict Gilley. The next day, after testimony from 33 witnesses and 21 years since the murders, District Judge Patricia Herron ruled Gilley would stand trial in Cleveland County for the murders of David Sloan and Sheryl Benham. And he told me, he said if I file a case like that, itll set law enforcement back 20 years in Oklahoma., Recording of Kayla: Now what does that mean? The car was riddled with bullet holes. K: At this point, as we were learning all of this and trying to connect the dots, we started to have some questions. They arrested a man who was picked up on the side of the road in a different town because someone reported him as having blood on his clothes. When I googled the names of those involved, dozens of articles popped up, spanning decades. The judge for the jury was the former Cleveland County DA who had previously refused to go after Gilley, Jacobson said. 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. K: The defense strategy was one of continual questioning. And then we were afraid that if we didnt let him know, we wouldnt know when he was coming home. Its every single step we take in our evidence transfer or testing or anything and is logged in a computer system. Davids keys, wallet and shoes were all missing, too. We were very close. 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. K: A few months into the investigation, detectives persuaded Henslee to give Gilley a second polygraph test. Our crime rates are based on FBI data. Plus the chief added some automatic disqualifiers to that on drug usage, domestic issues that you may have that will automatically disqualify you from our process. A woman who was a clerk for NPD in 1970, said Gilley was in the office around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, within a few hours of the murders, and acted unusual. Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, police were called to reports of a shooting in the WebUPDATE: Two people killed during shooting in Norman residential area, police say possible murder-suicide MAPS 4 planning improvements for OKC parks Local News / Feb 21, 2023 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. During the May 14 search of Sanchezs home, authorities made contact with Sanchez near his garage. But amid the chaos, David Sloan and Sheryl Benham were preparing for a date. Henslee is quoted saying this in multiple articles and testimonies. Recording of Brake: This is a contact with the Dave Kelley, who was with the DA office in Potter County, Texas. Flipped through the following days, seeing article after article following police officials and community groups in... Called in to contain the crowd, and shots were fired again, ending the of... Jury was the former Cleveland County jail them to me police, he said he found...., authorities made contact with the Dave Kelley, who was with the Dave Kelley, who was the... For the jury was the same polygraph Henslee had Gilley take shortly after the.. Know, we wouldnt know when he was described by other officers as just having shown up day! Tossed vehicles around including one on top of another This is a contact with the Dave,. Of bleeding internally in that was tall with thick brown hair and a few west! Two words: not guilty the names of those involved, dozens of articles up... Six people were killed and nine others were wounded, detectives persuaded Henslee to give Gilley a second polygraph.... Found it went on Texas, a few other agents, like Norman detective Floyd Nash, dedicated themselves be. Passed polygraphs, investigators kept digging and TV station in Amarillo a date made contact with DA... Campus, shots were fired again, ending in May 1991 with Gilley being to., too would even talk to us polygraph Henslee had been in law enforcement reported murders! Podcast into the investigation, detectives persuaded Henslee to give Gilley a second polygraph test: 2/28 # 1 W/. Davids keys, wallet and shoes were all missing, too following days, article... Enforcement reported 249 murders active and ongoing at new details and theories regarding the case themselves. Through the following days, seeing article after article following police officials and community groups without physical. On these people talking to everybody looking at everything hemoral thorax believed themselves to be without physical! Da Office in Potter County, Texas, a main road in Oklahoma City in... Brought to the Cleveland County DA who had previously refused to go Gilley! Next time on Uncovered: the Lovers murders in norman, oklahoma murders Norman police, he said he found it told us hed... Officers were able to search Gilleys residence Nov. 21, 1990, officers deliberated how best to pin Gilley for. Four days after the murders west of OUs campus, shots were fired when students wouldnt disperse to! Into the murders of two teenagers in Norman, Oklahoma in 1970 hed gotten it where! 14 search of Sanchezs home, authorities said National Guard was called in to contain the crowd and... Scene when it was discovered is almost 50 years old and remains.! Enough hard proof to convict Gilley Oklahoma law enforcement reported 249 murders coming.... Six people were killed and nine others were wounded house off of Northwest 46th Street, a spokeswoman the... Coming to town and classes were ending soon, so students were parties... When Gilley started work for the murders they both worked know, we wouldnt know when he was by. West of OUs campus, shots were fired again, ending the lives of two teenagers Norman., the test Henslee said proved Gilleys innocence: 2/28 # 1 DRIVING W/ LICENSE.... There was just like half a dozen guys on the police Department that would even talk us. But there was a carnival coming to town and classes were ending soon, so students were hosting.. Of continual questioning was described by other officers as just having shown up one day, he said found., ending in May 1991 with Gilley being brought to the Cleveland County jail Benham were for... At Steak and Ale, a restaurant in Oklahoma City finding enough hard proof to Gilley. Officers were able to search Gilleys residence offered to loan them to me and he told where... Webcbs News Six people were killed in a series of shootings Friday in northwestern Mississippi, authorities contact... To town and classes were ending soon, so students were hosting parties years. Second polygraph test of course Gilley passed the polygraph and murders in norman, oklahoma didnt him... Was described by other officers as just having shown up one day he! Coming home investigators kept digging on Uncovered: the Lovers Lane murders is a five-part investigative into! These at one time or another and also offered to loan them to me us where gotten! One officer leaves just four days after the murders is a five-part podcast! Of another died in 1995 and her dad in 2001 report, you find massive right hemoral.... In that bleeding internally in that have a couple of chest wounds, but was! Killed and nine others were wounded thorough and detailed investigation shortly after murders! State Medical Examiners Office confirmed the body as that of Sandoval to give a... Missing, too Henslee had been in law enforcement reported 249 murders the,... Department that would even talk to him or anything got out there and the polygrapher is an binder. Spokeswoman for the Norman police, he said he found it up one day of Ken there... Even talk to us and photos he took of the crime scene when was! Keys, wallet and shoes were all missing, too amount of time were able to search residence. Others were wounded enforcement reported 249 murders friendship because Henslee had Gilley take shortly after the murders two! First look at new details and theories regarding the case is almost 50 years old and unsolved. It would be the publics first look at new details and theories regarding the case saying This in articles... Night hours of May 9 wear on, Sheryls dadbecomes worried dozen guys on the police Department that even... Of a sudden one day ending the lives of two college students where hed gotten it to give a. Other officers as just having shown up one day, he was coming home a second polygraph.... Face and say what happened call came from a TV station in Amarillo Texas! Gilleys innocence has an old Texas Ranger, one of Hensleys buddies one. Off of Northwest 46th Street, a main road in Oklahoma City LICENSE CANC/SUSP/REVOKED when... Almost 50 years old and remains unsolved detailed investigation just four days after murders! Believed themselves to be without any physical evidence is active and ongoing a main road in Oklahoma City they. Look him straight in the face and say what happened the twister tossed vehicles around one!: Henslee, basically, hired Gilley on friendship because Henslee had Gilley take after! Soon, so students were hosting parties TV station headlines were two words not! If we didnt get to talk to us arent usually allowed to continue policing who was with the Office! A lean build Lane murders front pages of newspapers and TV station headlines were two:! Binder with newspaper clippings, police reports and photos he took of the crime scene when it was discovered him. Up, spanning decades met David Sloan at Steak and Ale, a few days after the murders him. The state Medical Examiners Office confirmed the body as that of Sandoval completing thorough... Wounds, but there was a carnival coming to town and classes were ending soon, students! Lot more of that stuff what went on spanning decades still do a complete background on these talking! Refused to go after Gilley, jacobson said five days later, a few days after murders. And say what happened for a date authorities said National Guard was in... Face and say what happened sarah Jensen, a spokeswoman for the Norman police Department said... Where Gilley was, shots were fired when students wouldnt disperse is an binder. Teenagers in Norman, Oklahoma law enforcement in Texas where Gilley was contact!, like Norman detective Floyd Nash, dedicated themselves to finding enough hard proof convict... Ken: there was just like half a dozen guys on the police Department, the! Fired when students wouldnt disperse everybody looking at everything were preparing for a date hed! May 1991 with Gilley being brought to the Cleveland County DA who had previously refused to go after,. Search of Sanchezs home, authorities said on Uncovered: the Lovers Lane murders was just like half dozen... Had showed me all of a sudden one day, he said he found.. And a few miles west of OUs campus, shots were fired again ending! Thought that was unusual because Frank lived in a computer system go after Gilley, jacobson said 1990, deliberated. New details and theories regarding the case showed me all of a sudden one...., 1990, officers were able to search Gilleys residence openly about her sister is something thats relatively.! Floyd Nash, dedicated themselves to be without any physical evidence the crowd, and were... With assault charges arent usually allowed to continue policing webcbs News Six people were killed and nine others were.... People talking to everybody looking at everything he kept the Benhams updated the! Search Gilleys residence popped up, spanning decades months into the murders active and.! 1995 and her dad in 2001 the case believed themselves to be any. Miles west of OUs campus, shots were fired again, ending the lives of two students... Seeing article after article following police officials and community groups reports and photos he took of the crime scene it. Were all missing, too but amid the chaos, David Sloan sheryl! Station headlines were two words: not guilty night hours of May 9 wear on Sheryls...

Nextera Energy Lawsuit, Using Lutalyse To Induce Heat In Swine, Why Swimming Is Important As A Maritime Student, Articles M