Midwest City fire: More questions than answers
Many questions are still unanswered after a fire broke out in an apartment in Midwest City Sunday, killing a mother and her two children.
Maj. David Richardson said investigators determined Monday that the fire started in the living room hallway of the family’s unit, Apt. D at the Raintree Meadows Apartments, 449 Harr Drive. He said more investigators are at the scene today, trying to gather more information.
(more…)
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers offer free motorcycle safety program
Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers are teaming up with the state Department of Transportation to provide educational classes on motorcycle safety.
Officials said the need for the program became apparent after motorcycle crashes and fatalities continued to rise, both nationally and locally.
For those interested in taking one of the classes, here is a Q&A of requirements and equipment needed to participate.
Funeral held for Lincoln County boy; authorities investigating child’s death
Funeral services were held Monday for a 4-year-old Lincoln County boy whose death remains under investigation.
Lincoln County Sheriff Charlie Dougherty said Troy Damelio was found dead at his family’s trailer Thursday at 850661 S State Highway 18. He said the parents called to report the death and told officials he had a fever for about a week before he died.
From an earlier story:
Investigators were told the parents are members of the Church of the Firstborn in the Parkland community. Dougherty said members are known not to seek medical help for illnesses.
Services were held 10 a.m. Monday at the Osage Church of the Firstborn in Agra, according to the Palmer Marler Funeral Home’s Facebook page.
Damelio’s cause of death is still pending, a spokeswoman for the state medical examiner said Tuesday.
Document: Read more about the U.S., Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement
President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed the Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the United States Tuesday.
According to White House reports, Obama and Karzai began to negotiate a strategic partnership in May 2010.
Read the report from the White House below.
Pretrial set for former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper charged with rape
A pretrial date has been set for a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper accused of raping a Guthrie woman while on duty June 20.
Patrick Venable, 28, was ordered to stand trial after Special judge R.L. Hert Jr. ruled April 4 that there was enough evidence presented at the preliminary hearing for Venable to face trial in district court on a count of second-degree rape.
Court records show that Venable’s pretrial is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 15 in Logan County. At his arraignment last week, Venable pleaded not guilty to the charge.
For more on the judge’s order for Venable to stand trial, click here.
Read about the preliminary hearing and testimony here.
Photo by Paul Southerland: Former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Patrick Venable leaving a courtroom during his preliminary hearing at the Payne County Courthouse in Stillwater Monday, Jan. 23, 2012.
Court notebook: Search warrant filed in triple Oklahoma City homicide
View Untitled in a larger map
Police filed a search warrant Monday for items inside a southwest Oklahoma City home where three people were found dead earlier this month.
Officers responded to shots fired at the home at 3221 S Durland Avenue shortly after midnight April 14. Witnesses told police they saw several people run from the home after the shots were fired and left in different vehicles.
Man who died in Oklahoma City oil rig accident identified
Police have identified the man who died in an oil rig accident Monday as Peter Cleeland, 45, authorities said Tuesday afternoon.
About 10 p.m. Monday, firefighters and paramedics were called to a rig at 3400 SE 59, said fire Deputy Chief Marc Woodard.
Police officers also responded to a man being “crushed” at the rig site, said police Master Sgt Gary Knight.
Crews freed the Cleeland from underneath metal, but he was in full arrest when he was freed, authorities said. Emergency Medical Services Authority paramedics also responded, Woodard said.
Residents tweet about Oklahoma City bombing anniversary
Today marks the 17th Anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.
I woke up this morning at 8:30 a.m. and started reading tweets from people who lost loved ones in the bombing. Some sent prayers via Twitter while others talked about where they were when the bomb went off. (more…)
Court notebook: New search warrant filed in Rebecca Bryan case
An Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agent has filed a new search warrant in the case of Rebecca Bryan, a Mustang woman accused in the shooting death of her husband, Keith Bryan.
Rebecca Bryan, 52, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of her husband, the Nichols Hills fire chief, on Sept. 20 inside they Mustang home at at 1320 W Rose Hill Drive.
A judge ordered her to face trial on April 4. Bryan is scheduled to appear for arraignment May 22 in El Reno.
Agent Shawn Wright filed the warrant for a .380 Ruger LCP gun box that once belonged to the couple’s son, Kent Bryan. Officials also requested a fired casing from the pistol, related paperwork and a receipt for the gun.
(more…)
Second arrest made in Easter Sunday shooting of Lexington man
A second arrest has been made in the Easter Sunday shooting death of a Lexington man, authorities said.
Authorities arrested Russell Lee Blackwood, 40, of Purcell, Wednesday, the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation reported. Blackwood was arrested on a murder complaint in connection with the death of Gary Norton Sr., 55, who was found shot to death in his Lexington home April
Blackwood had been booked into the McClain County Jail on unrelated charges. Agents questioned him Wednesday, arrested him, and booked him into Cleveland County Jail.
Blackwood’s arrest follows that of Richard Dean Landsdale, 37, of Purcell, who was arrested at home Monday afternoon. Landsdale was also booked into Cleveland County jail.
An autopsy revealed Norton died of a gunshot wound to the head, OSBI said. Several residents called 911 and said they heard gunshots in the area between 12:30 and 12:45 a.m.
