Thursday, September 2, 2010

Oklahoma: Where Crime Blows Like the Wind

By Susan Murphy Milano

The adopted song for the state of Oklahoma originates from the 1950s Rogers and Hammerstein musical sung by Shirley Jones and Gordon McRae. A line from the song says: “Winds come sweeping down the plain, smells sweet.” I would like to add a verse of my own: "The sweeping murder down the plain, it smells foul, just the same,” new lyrics now sung by the families of Chanda Turner and Shiela Deviney.

In the state of Oklahoma, specifically Garvin County, justice has literally been removed, erased, whatever you would like to call it, for the families of Chanda Turner and Shiela Deviney. Both of these women lost their lives as a direct result of intimate partner homicide. The elected officials, law enforcement and political powers in the State of Oklahoma have decided never to investigate, bring forth charges and arrest the husband and boyfriend in these cases. Instead, they gave each of the suspects their blessings, allowing them to tamper with crime-scene evidence after each murder, right under the noses of Old West-mentality law enforcement.

The sheriff, in my opinion, has used everything in his corrupt and crooked magic bag to harass and personally threaten each of the families. It is likely the Garvin County Sheriff's Office is still operating under 1850s Old West procedures when it comes to the murder of a wife and a girlfriend. The current sheriff might want to change the language on the office's website, which reads: "The office of the sheriff is one of antiquity. It is the oldest law-enforcement known within the common-law system, and it has always been accorded great dignity and trust."

Chandra Turner (left), just 23 years old, was shot to death at her home in Paul's Valley on July 12, 2000. Her boyfriend claimed she shot herself while he slept through the sound of gunfire and later found her outside on the back steps after she was dead. Crime scene photos depict blood throughout the inside of the home, including on the mattress he claimed he was asleep on. The mattress had been stripped of sheets; no one asked where they went. There were more signs of cleanup in the bedroom, including a bottle of cleaning solution on the floor. The boyfriend had fresh scratches on his arms, and Chanda was covered in bruises. There were signs of a struggle in the living room, including broken furniture.

Shiela Deviney (right), 30, died on January 6, 2004, when her mobile home, located about one mile east and one mile south of Maysville, Oklahoma, burned to the ground. She was murdered. It should be no surprise that Sheila had been married to an abusive, controlling man. They had a court date over past-due child support scheduled the next day. According to eye witnesses, her ex-husband was at the home, although by law not allowed on the premises. He and another friend destroyed evidence and took items from the home.

Where are my manners? I forgot to mention that the "participation" (more like hawking into a spitoon) of the district attorney's office, both past and current administrations, has been non-existent. The office refuses to open the cases. They will not take calls from the families, who have important documents and information. They refuse to give a damn!

Perhaps it has something to do with the person who now heads up the investigations for the district attorney's office? Oh, wait, I remember now. He was an investigator on both the Chanda Turner and the Shiela Deviney cases.

Last month, Intimate Partner Homicide Investigation Radio, a new show about victims likely killed by a husband or a boyfriend, presented these two cases. The Blogtalk Radio show is hosted by "Cold Case" investigative research director Sheryl McCollum, former Atlanta prosecutor turned defense attorney Holly Hughes, and myself. Our broadcasts alone were, in our opinion, more than enough to actually have both the Turner and Deviney case re-opened. Calls burned up the show’s switchboard with folks calling in with information from witnesses of "who done it," and with locations of important evidence. Each caller stated they had never been contacted by law enforcement or the prosecutors office.

According to Sheryl McCollum, "Although we will never know what forensic evidence was present because the crime scene was not secured properly in either of the cases, other evidence provided is more than enough to investigate and demand each case be re-opened."

McCollum goes on to say, about Chanda Turner’s case: "We know from photographs that there was blood spatter evidence that was not considered, we know from forensic reports that there was primer residue evidence that was ignored."

Defense attorney Holly Hughes, the former Atlanta prosecutor, believes that the Gavin County prosecutor, by refusing to open both the Turner and Deviney cases, is covering up for those who did not properly do their jobs. It is clear from the photos of the fire in the Deviney case.

Within three weeks of the airing of Shiela Deviney’s case, a group of Oklahoma businessmen who heard the show and wish to remain anonymous posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the people responsible for Sheila’s murder.

Perhaps the prosecutor has a memory lapse, practicing his own version of "blue light special" justice, forgetting that he was elected by the people, taking an oath, placing his hand on the Bible, swearing to do a job and ensure justice.

To the elected officials in Oklahoma, as your song goes “it ain’t too early and it ain’t too late" to do your jobs and re-open the cases!

Many times we don't realize the impact of writing and posting blogs, or doing what some call silly radio shows for broadcast over the Internet; they do have an impact and people are listening and taking action. In addition, in Oklahoma, because of our show, a newly formed alliance of concerned and committed citizens was created and named the Eleventh Commandment. It was created to counter a growing plague of police corruption, political apathy and administrative malfeasance, all of which have played a part in the untimely and unsolved murders of a number of local citizens. The Eleventh Commandment reads, "Thou shall not get away with it!"

The Internet, in my opinion, can be an important tool if used correctly, specifically for cold cases, taking the lives of those buried and forgotten long ago and holding them under the light for justice!

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

While I find the lack of action by these lax law enforcement officers to be offensive. I also find that gender bias where any crime is concerned to be just as offensive. Sadly both men and women commit crimes of violence towards others and this should be reflected in any protest against intimate partner violence no matter what level it is.

Leah said...

I wonder where these two men [that is an over statement] are now.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like two guys I would like to meet in a dark bar. I wonder what brand of booze they would prefer to drown in. searcher5.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like two guys I would like to meet in a dark bar. I wonder what brand of booze they would prefer to drown in. searcher5.

Susan Murphy-Milano said...

To the first comment:
“should be reflected in any protest against intimate partner violence”
This is not a “protest” but rather a demand that these 2 cases be investigated and opened because justice has been denied. I do not separate by gender, blood bleeds the same in color, having said that I work on all cases. On August 16th in the same month we featured two cases, the lives of missing Arizona man Michael Tapley ( a case I have be involved with for over a year) and Television producer Matthew Houbrick (for about 6 months) the men’s deaths receive the same attention as everything else I have worked on as it relates to intimate partner homicide.
And offensive is when my mother was murdered in 1989, while others looked away and did nothing.

As an FYI here is a brief link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaNhBfzXN5c

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Hi Susan,

Great post! Very upsetting subject, though. Were these murders ignored because the victims were women? Yes, men get murdered, too, but men are also far more likely to murder their partner than women are. Murder is still the number one cause of death for pregnant young women in the US. Oklahoma just encourages this kind of violence by turning a blind eye to it. Law enforcement in that state is getting away with murder.

Ool without P in it said...

The punk who shot Chandy Turner is a sleazy attorney's son. A deal was struck with the Sheriff's office that night. Kind of makes you wonder hmmm when coroner called before ambulance called.

THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT said...

Susan, another great blog! We're cooking with gas, now. The word is out about the reward on Sheila Deviney and the new legislation concerning Chanda Turner and the new evidence regarding Tom Horton. THOU SHALT NOT GET AWAY WITH IT...

www.theeleventhcommandment.org
www.sheiladeviney.org
www.justiceforthedead.com

Anonymous said...

Ya, well the dirty rotten bastards who burnt Shella live in Lindsay. Ain't the shjeriff got plenty of fam and friends in Lindsay? Wonder how come the fire marshaless knew it was an accident before anyone else left the scene. That my friens was an assasination.

Walters said...

Hi, I met ya'll today at the wiley post fest in Maysville. I was very impressed by your message and noticed the obvious distress that sheriff brooks seemed to be in watching you. God bless you all and thank you for the information.

G A said...

Thank you for wjhat you doing. Sheriff Brookes needs to go ne. I visited your website, the elevent commnanment website and I want to be a member as well.

Waynegrough said...

I think the facts in this case are pretty black and white. The only thing missing from Garvin County is justice. Maybe the department of the United States Government charged with it should come to Garvin County and provide some. That is before those people in the royal blue polo shirts become horizontal as well. Just my two cents.

Blaze Orange said...

I just saw those peiple with the royal blue polo shirts on Oklahoma City Channel 9 and it looks like they have their shit together.

Safety Green said...

Wow. And Channel 25 too! I don't think they're fooling around.

Oustanding said...

Now that's America! Give 'em hell, ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT!

Gunny Highway said...

You can only push people so far before they snap and civil unrest happens. Looks to be the case here.

Patty Cake said...

Nice news clips. Dedicated, for sure but I don't think they know what they're in for. Looks to me like they have run afoul of heavy hitters who are making alot of money doing something they shouldn't and would kill for. Hope the FBI is paying attention to this and gets involved before someone else loses their life.

Conrad said...

I would like to send a shout out to the royal blue crew from OKC: Keep up the fight. Places like Garvin County give all law enforcment a black eye and they should be flushed out like the greasy tar balls they are. CONRAD

Anonymous said...

ROFLOL! The Sheriff said on tv he would look into the case if asked!!! Since when do you have to step over the bloody corpse of your loved ones and ask the cops to help? WHat kind of inbred banjo picking goes on in Garvin County, Oklahoma?!

GRANDMA PAUL said...

Well I know that in his stump speeches, Sheriff Brooks says he wasn't the sheriff during all that mess but I happen to know that he was the UNDERSHERIFF for like 6 or 7 years prior to being appointed acting sheriff last year. He was a member of the department since before Chanda Turner died and was at her house too. He also became the sheriff just before the last deal with the teacher from Wynnewood. If any of what I'm hearing is true about his past, then Garvin County can't be rid of him fast enough. I undersatnd this other fella from Paoli retired from OKC PD and used to be in internal affairs. I wonder of these Garvin County idiots are worried about their internal affairs? I know I am. I don't like being the laughing stock of the nation. I want change and not the BS kind we got in washington last time, I mean a full flush and then a scrub to get all the lingering turds off the side of the bowl.

Carol Ann Dean J said...

Chanda Turner was a pretty as a picture. Everyone loved her when she used to run around the grocery store. Now that she got shot to death by that pice of shit over in Pauls Vallet, the powers that be reduced her to a slut and a tramp and a doper and it sickens me. Sheila Deviney is being treated the same way--the ones burned her are now running her down as they parade around trying to be kimanis and such. Even Mr. Horton, the teacher who they named a building after is talked about like he was a sick old man with one foot in the grave. They don't care people. Let's vote them all out. If it were up to me, I would buy all new hemp ropes and put to good use them trees out front of the court house. Some of the so called law ought to swing as well for what they done.

Carnegie Outfitters said...

Thanks for the info at the State Fair! Thank God for families like you. Can't wait for the conference in October.--CO

Anonymous said...

This is insane. Why is it so many cases seem to grow cold? Why are the murderers getting away with it? Could it be the scales of justice are not balanced anymore? Criminal's rights are enforced and it is a fact victim's rights ARE NOT enforced.

Why? The criminal is given representation, not so for the victim. How did this happen?

Thank God there are people willing to speak out and fight for the victim's. Thank you Susan.

Anonymous said...

I heard Chanda Turner was about to leave her worthless boyfriend. I wonder what she knew about him and his "attorney" family. It is a shame that the only other person, besides the boyfriend, there the night she was killed, was found drowned in a lake.
Corruption is overwhelming in Garvin County. Why don't the FEDS come in and take a look? When so many people are crying foul play concerning the same system? And for goodness sake; change Chanda Turner's death certificate to HOMOCIDE! Shame on the OK ME office.

Anonymous said...

The person drowned in the lake was my cousin. I believe she was murdered. She did not deserve to have her life taken by that trash. Heather had a drug addiction, but she was loved by her family. I hope those 2 scumbags rot in hell.

Anonymous said...

I, personally, like banjo picking. Fact is, only there can one discern who comes for the show or simply sits and looks over his shoulder to see if the object of his "mind control" has moved.

Stormy weather brings out the best in people-and the worst in others, two.

Even women "get involved" with enough influence if they think that through diet-and gumshoe exercise-they, two could rue the roost.

Certainly they still have some "scientific" evidence to crack the old case.

If they deem every druggie should be pushed aside when murdered, they'd have a lot of "case closed" happening.

All one has to do is head on down to the local hardware or paint store and whoop up a batch of that special elixir to hawk to others to cure all their ills.

Anonymous said...

I believe it was a cover up and people were paid to keep quiet.the boyfriend that was their when chanda died said he didnt hear anything and the scene was cleaned up that right there is suspicious to me and everyone knows that has to be a lie.kind of funny everything ive read up on this case online and it stated the boyfriends dad is an attorney well my guess right there would be people were paid to keep quiet,and heather adkins was there and its kind of funny how she drowned at the lake and it ruled as a accident.I wonder if she threatened to talk and thats why she died.I always thought heathers husband andy adkins is the one that killed his wife maybe he got paid or maybe he didnt get paid to kill her but I always heard rumors in this town about andy adkins being a murderer and getting away with it. I never understand why the feds hasnt got involved in these cases and come clean up this town and the crooked people in it and get justice for the vicitims killed . Im embarresed to say this is my hometown.

Anonymous said...

Have they done anything to the people that threatened you while you was visiting pauls valley susan?

Anonymous said...

Have they done anything to the people that threatened you while you was visiting pauls valley susan?