WebHome / Select Cities / 2023 Comparing Bakersfield, CA vs. Norman, OK 2023 Compare Crime Rates: Bakersfield, CA vs Norman, OK Change Cities : Bakersfield, CA: Norman, OK: United States Violent Crime: 24: 14.7: 22.7 Property Crime: 60: 40.9: 35.4: The Crime Indices range from 1 (low crime) to 100 (high crime). Two counts of first-degree murder. K: There were clothes, a bloody blanket, hair and the roughly 30 shell casings that were all missing. K: Gilley rushed home to a frenzy of officers. The boy had been dropped off at a party in late May or early June 1968, and later in the evening he got into a fight until Gilley pulled him off. K: Gilley had a clean official record until this incident in 1968. I think he was but was not dying or dead, maybe not even dying. (The US average is 22.7) Norman property crime is 40.9. K: In the search warrant, officers claimed that Gilley likely still had possession of items from the crime scene, like Davids shoes and car keys, a scrapbook of newspaper articles and personal photos of the scene and possibly the murder weapon. Type in Norman, OK in the upper left address window, then click on Go to Address.. 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. And then he comes back. Yeah we should do that. Potter County, where Gilley was working directly before he came to Norman, covers the northern half of Amarillo. It says after being acquainted with Frank Gilley, it was the opinion of this officer that Gilley is very capable of committing such an act of which he is being investigated by your department. 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. He then cut the body up into a hundred pieces and cooked and ate from them for days. Henslee never did get his promotion to be the director of the OSBI. You know and Frank and David were both described as hotheads and so you put two hotheads together I think Frank his only choice was to shoot him to protect himself and then Sherry probably just did whatever he wanted her to do., Recording of Brake: heek. Gilleys attorney, Robert Perrine, said most of the evidence was not conclusive. K: Gilley was living close to Dallas in De Soto, Texas, in the early 90s. K: The lost evidence and the hiring of Gilley in the first place played major roles in the Benham-Sloan case, but so did the alleged obstruction by the various law enforcement agencies. We announced that we were going to go for the death penalty on those cases because of the circumstances. They began surveillance on Gilley, finding out where he lived now, following him to work. We were very close. 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. Im Kayla Branch, and when we left off in episode one, the murders of David Sloan and Sheryl Benham had just happened after they left a fraternity party in Norman. Recording of Pearo: Frank had rented a house from this guy and he brings in this .22 caliber rifle.. 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. K: Eventually, Norman prosecutors declared they would be seeking the death penalty for Gilley due to the period of torture and terror David and Sheryl endured while being locked alive in the trunk. 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. Keep in mind that they had been at a fraternity party at the SAE house. I dont anymore. I told him we hadnt. Well pick back up the day the bodies were found. The calls got further apart, but somebody would always call and would say what do you think about this thing, did you look at this, and all that. Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders is a five-part investigative podcast into the murders of two teenagers in Norman, Oklahoma in 1970. 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. I think before when it was brought up, I still hurt so bad and my emotions. Recording of Ken: One of the hardest things about something like this is what you know happened but you cant prove it. State police officers came to assist. 112 GREAT OAKS DR, NORMAN, OK 73071 Property Report 145441690 Recording of Ken: Frank stood on the porch and he said, Well Rangers can come in, but you guys from Oklahoma cant come in. And the Ranger said, You dont have any choice Frank, these guys are with us and were all coming in. Frank said, I dont have any .22 caliber weapons, I never owned one, I wouldnt have one. 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 said yes Do you know if Gilley owned or had in his possession any .22 caliber weapons? The OSBI later identified the K: Investigators on the case soon discovered that Gilley had been hired by Henslee without a background check or fingerprints taken, which we were told were normal hiring steps at the time. Episode 1 He maintained that his wife at the time of the murders was with him before he started his night shift, though she denied it. WebRT @dtblove05: Oklahoma University football team helping out one of their teammates clean up after a tornado destroyed his house in Norman, OK. 28 Feb 2023 01:09:39 The two stayed there for an unknown amount of time. Benham did write the letter on May 11, 1971, exactly one year after the body of his daughter and her date were found in the trunk of Daves car. 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. This was the only physical evidence in the entire case. Recording of Linda: Ken Jacobson, I remember that name a lot. Now Im almost like, not mad, I dont wanna use that word but damn, I wish they had had DNA back then.. The jurors came back Monday, Nov. 11 with a verdict. August Murders accounted for 1.5% of all violent crimes and 0.2% of reported index crimes. It would be the publics first look at new details and theories regarding the case. Dave and Sherry deserved something better than what they got and their families Maybe there is something in there we missed.. And even though these statements were coming in after the murders of Sheryl and David, police were including pictures of Gilley. 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. And your first thought is Good! Described as ornery but well-liked and friendly, he was on a tennis scholarship for his first two years. A few days after he came here, to the state crime bureau for a polygraph test. They took in Sheryls ex-boyfriend for questioning. Recording of Foster: One, we have basic requirements of age. And that pool cue was over on the passengers side, on the floor and it was completely wiped clean, didnt have anybodys fingerprints on it., Recording of Brake: So I think Sloan grabbed that pool cue handle and said Ill kick your ass and Gilley shot him with the handgun. Jacobson and a few other agents, like Norman detective Floyd Nash, dedicated themselves to finding enough hard proof to convict Gilley. K: Next time on Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders. View on Google Maps Street View. Gilley took the test four days after the bodies were found. Crime at 6400 BLOCK OF 36TH AVENUE NW on 02/19/2023 1:20 PM. She found the newspaper with the requested photo, but also found what led to the months long Daily investigation into that pair of murders. He still lives in the area. You know, you think youre going to get out of this, youre going to go to class the next day or go to work or whatever you do. She suggested we go to the police station and see if anythings come up. Investigators told me that they started to hear rumors, that GIlley had an obsession with lovers lanes, just like the one where David and Sheryl were found. Oklahoma is 10.8% cheaper than Norman, Oklahoma. At the end of episode four, police called Frank Gilley at work and told him to hurry home. .. On June 8, 1970, they had driven down to Norman It says Well we were on a dirt road and had pulled up toward the west to where the sun was going down.. You know they were sort of at least at peace, at least a little bit. Weve got pictures of them but thats it. But it was one that, it was kind of a taboo subject., Recording of Kayla: Why? So I think in this case, at least from what Ive been able to read about it, there were a lot of questions about things disappearing or not being there. When I googled the names of those involved, dozens of articles popped up, spanning decades. Gilley said he was not guilty. I think before when it was brought up, I still hurt so bad and my emotions. What do you think was the change there?, Recording of Linda: I dont know how to explain that. Recording of Ken: But we jumped in the car in Oklahoma City and drove out to Lubbock, drove all night. After the test, Henslee told reporters Gilley was innocent, that the polygraph proved it, and then Gilley packed his bags and resigned from the force that same day. Jacobson also testified. They believe the incident started before Gilleys NPD shift started around midnight Saturday. College students going out together, laughing with friends, looking forward to the future. They picked through old evidence and files, contacting anyone who would still have a good recollection of what happened two decades before. Recording of Brake: Wish we could have put the son of a bitch in the electric chair.. Two years later, it seems like charges might be put against Gilley, but nothing is certain. Recording of Ken: Its amazing to me the interest thats continued in this case. Well start back up with thoughts from Linda Adams, Sheryls older sister. 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. Ronald Lee McMullen Jr., who hails from Norman, was charged with first-degree murder after Kailee Jo McMullen was found deceased from a single gunshot wound to the face on the morning of June 29, 2017, according to a People Magazine report. Not only does the department interact with the Norman community on a more regular basis, but the hiring protocols for officers have completely changed. Most of the case takes place in central Oklahoma and Northern Texas, but our story begins five days earlier in Kent, Ohio, on Monday, May 4, 1970. After 20 years, they couldnt see putting a guy to death. We think David recognized him from that trial in Amarillo, Recording of Brake: Heres whats interesting about the autopsy report that told me at the time how I think it transpired. The more I learned about that night, the more I realized it started off just like the fraternity parties today. We still do a complete background on these people talking to everybody looking at everything. In July, a hearing was held to determine whether the case had enough evidence to go to trial. Recording of Kayla: Can you speak about the relationship between Henslee and Gilley? What happens next leaves him and his family reeling while the Norman Police Department begins investigation. 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 then he said something about Well you couldnt even convict him again or something like that. Recording of Kayla: Why do you think that is? Then Mr. Gilley said are you accusing me of stealing your $10? We got out there and the polygrapher is an old Texas Ranger, one of Hensleys buddies. K: Youre listening to Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders. She told them he was home with her, but later recanted her statement, saying she didnt know exactly where he was. 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. K: Welcome back to Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders. Perrine put in dozens of requests, ranging from declaring a mistrial to requesting that words like grotesque not be allowed in the courtroom. It was a much smaller department then, often only a few police officers would be out patrolling the city at a time. The state Medical Examiners Office confirmed the body as that of Sandoval. JOSEPH WAYNE McCOOL Well we thought that was unusual because Frank lived in Amarillo.. The driveway is to the left, the sidewalk running along the length of the house for a few yards before the steps to the front door. Joshua Bookout. Rarely did he make any type of gestures that would draw any interest.He was quiet and he didnt do anything to call attention to himself.. Did you ever see Gilley with any type of badge other than the one he had? If you see them, do not try and apprehend them yourself as they are most likely armed and dangerous. Click on the image below to view the Lexis Nexis Community Crime map. K: For Ken Jacobson, that was his introduction to the murders of Sheryl Benham and David Sloan. Linda, Sheryls older sister by two years, stayed at their family home in Oklahoma City with her mom. Recording of Brake: He told me that if anyone asked me about a .22 rifle, which he might own, to tell them no. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Norman is 1 in 316 and property crime is 1 in 32. Crime Rate per 100,000 Pop. My mind was, Where could I go, what couldve happened? She drove me to Norman. Which, the police chief, if he doesnt have enough power to influence, whos going to?. I just dont think its there. Turns out I was right. It was really hard for them when we told them we were reopening the case again because it had been so long and sort of accepted the fact as much as they could. 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. It sits in a quiet neighborhood. On Nov. 21, 1990, officers were able to search Gilleys residence. He said the politics were too much, that true policing was impossible because of it. And said something like, You son of a bitch, youre not a real cop, I remember you from Amarillo, you got in trouble up there, Recording of Ken: David had a pool cue, a cut-off pool cue by the drivers door under his seat, and his friends tell us thats the first thing he drug out if there was going to be trouble. K: He told us about finding the old case information from the murders and becoming interested. Maybe hes just gone away and somebody will rescue them or find them. Im writing this in hopes that some of the people receiving this letter can provide answers, he typed. When the OSBI, along with the Norman Police Department and the Cleveland County Sheriffs Office, found the bodies on Monday, May 11, Sheryl and David had been missing for just over 24 hours. He told Jacobson he needed to shift his focus elsewhere, but Jacobson was already convinced Gilley was the main suspect. We still do polygraph examinations. K: Next time on Uncovered: The Lovers Lane Murders. 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. And then relayed to me that that rifle actually belonged to his wife so he wasnt lying. K: Thats Chip Minty, a reporter at The Oklahoman who covered the trial, describing Gilleys demeanor on Oct. 21, 1991, as jurors were picked. The violent crime rate in Norman is 289.4 per 100,000 people. He was working as a recent recruit to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in 1970 and was assigned to the case full time. K: Linda told us about her dad, overcome with anger and sadness, jumping in the car one night a few months after the murders to go find Frank Gilley himself. Christopher Sanders. I can talk about it now, I can., Recording of Kayla: Why do you think that is? And about 10 or 15 minutes later, we looked up and dont know how long this guy had been standing there, but we looked up and there was a man standing there and he had a badge and he showed it to us. Gilley was brought in to the Amarillo police station and had his mug shots taken. 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 [] Hundreds of thousands of college students were protesting the Vietnam War. After picking Sheryl up at her Oklahoma City home, the pair drove down to Norman to attend a party at Daves fraternity. 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. And its also important to remember the climate of the time, that even though the majority of Normans community trusted law enforcement officials, the younger generation was having increasingly negative run-ins with officers, whether through protesting or individual incidents. WebFOX23 spoke with survivors who are just grateful to be alive following Sundays EF-2 tornado that ripped through Norman at around 9:20 p.m. K: Perrine also focused on technicalities, like Gilley not being read his Miranda Rights at certain points or the lawfulness of using testimony from witnesses who had died before the trial started. Investigators were also dealing with the biases of the Norman community. K: Linda lives in Oklahoma City and has multiple children of her own. He was part of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Recording of Pearo: This case was in there. It was like, Hey look, that case will probably never go anywhere, so forget that one, you can look at the rest of them. WebMost accurate 2021 crime rates for Norman, OK. WebBest Places to Live | Compare cost of living, crime, cities, schools and more. 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.. It was us that broke into your house and youre under arrest. So he started looking around and he looked at me and he said, Where are you from? and I said Norman, Oklahoma. And he said I thought so.. WebHome / Select Cities / 2023 Comparing Bakersfield, CA vs. Norman, OK 2023 Compare Crime Rates: Bakersfield, CA vs Norman, OK Change Cities : Bakersfield, CA: Norman, OK: United Recording of Linda: I would just love to look him straight in the face and say What happened? There is no other perpetrator that makes any sense at all, none., Recording of Ken: When you get in a situation like that, you never really think youre going to die. 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. What we think happened is Sloan and Benham were up on the lovers lane and Gilley approached them, probably came up to David Sloan, his side of the car, and said Im the sheriff of Cleveland County, probably made David get out and talk to him. 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. 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. They left the fraternity house around 11:30 p.m. and went to a place in western Norman known as Lovers Lane. In 1970, Norman was going through a period of growth, but this part of town, out past the main highway and now home to a large residential area with houses and schools, was still just farmland and brush.
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