Man found shot to death in ditch

10-30-2011 Oklahoma:

Tulsa Police are searching for clues after the body of a man is discovered in a ditch.

It happened near 3100 E. Virgin Street around 8:30 this morning.

Police say the body of 48-year-old Eric Fuller was found lying in a ditch. He had been shot.

At this time, the Homicide unit is still working on leads regarding a motive or suspects.

According to the police department, the number of homicides in 2010 is very close to the numbers last year.

"This is the 44th one we've investigated this year. Last year at this time almost to the day we were at 50, so it's running pretty much the same," says Sgt. Dave Walker.

There were a total of 62 homicides in 2010.

Fuller was wanted for failing to register as a sex offender, however police do not believe this was a motive. ..Source.. by Sharon Phillips

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Man arrested in death of man found in ditch

11-3-2011:

Antwan Maurice Reed, 34, was taken into custody on a complaint of first-degree murder after investigators found evidence linking him to the death of Eric Fuller, 48, Sgt. Dave Walker said.

Fuller was found dead with a gunshot wound in a ditch near 3100 E. Virgin St. about 8:25 a.m. Sunday. Police believe he was killed between 3 and 4 a.m.

Reed is being held at the Tulsa Jail without bail. He also is being held for traffic violations.

He has a history of criminal convictions that include assaulting a police officer, burglary, kidnapping, concealing stolen property and possession of drugs, records show. He served nine years in jail and was released in 2009. ..Source.. by ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer

Two alleged gang members suspected in death

9-26-2006 Oklahoma:

LAWTON, Okla. A man serving time in a private prison for lewd molestation may have fallen victim to two imprisoned gang members.

Lawton police investigators allege Brandon James Horne and Michael Sean Rose -- both 23 -- attacked Charles -A- Willingham in his cell on Monday. The 53-year-old died at the Southwestern Medical Center emergency room.

Detectives allege that Horne and Rose are members of the Aryan Brotherhood, a gang notorious for extorting protection money from sex offenders.

Witnesses told investigators Horne and Rose entered Willingham's cell to either extort money from him or rob him of his belongings.

The witnesses claim when Willingham refused to pay them 100 dollars, he was knocked to the ground and stomped to death.

No formal charges have been filed against the pair. ..more..

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Lawyer disqualified in local murder appeal

3-27-2013 Oklahoma:

While the court could still hear arguments and testimony regarding the possibility of a new trial for a Lawton inmate serving time for murdering a convicted sex offender in 2006, a Comanche County judge ruled Tuesday that they would not be heard from the defense attorney who filed initial motions.

Comanche County District Court Judge Mark Smith ordered Gretchen Mosley, an attorney with the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, disqualified from representing Brandon J. Horne, 29, on grounds her representation would be a violation of the Oklahoma Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Smith told Mosley that without a signed waiver of consent from her previous client, Michael Rose, he did not feel it would be appropriate for her to continue representing Horne.

Prison inmate beaten to death
Rose and Horne were both charged with the 2006 murder of Charles Willingham, who was beaten to death during an apparent attempt to extort money from him at the Lawton Correctional Facility. Horne and Rose were reportedly members of the Aryan Brotherhood (UAB) gang.

Mosley initially represented Rose in his murder case while G. Lynn Burch represented Horne. Both men have now contested their convictions. In November, Mosley filed a motion arguing that Burch did not interview two crucial witnesses. But before the court could address merits of the request, Smith had to hear evidence regarding Stoneman's request to have Mosley disqualified, which he filed Friday.

Stoneman made two arguments. First, he pointed out that Horne and Rose were co-defendants and that both have implicated each other. Since Mosley initially represented Rose, he said she had a conflict of interest regarding her previous client's interests and her new client's interests. Second, Stoneman argued that OIDS is statutorily prohibited from being ordered to represent defendants in post-conviction cases, a claim Mosley countered, saying she was representing Horne in a private capacity.

Stoneman argued the court's assumption that Mosley was representing Horne in her own personal capacity was "in bad faith" as OIDS investigators, who work for the state, had been contacting people involved with Horne's appeal on behalf of Mosley. The defense attorney argued she was not using state-provided resources. The judge said he would take her on her word, but pointed out it was interesting that Mosley claimed Horne had the funds to hire her to file the motion but said he was indigent after Smith ruled to disqualify her. ...continued... by Malinda Rust

Sex offender killed in Granite prison

5-4-2007 Oklahoma:

An inmate at the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite was found dead in his cell Tuesday evening. Donald Sullivan was serving 600 years for sex crimes.

Greg Brooks, spokesman for the prison, would not comment on how Sullivan died, but said Sullivan had multiple wounds.

Brooks said Sullivan was found by a staff member around 6:45pm Tuesday, around the time when all the cell doors are open just prior to the evening head count.

Sullivan did share a cell, but so far, the prison isn't saying anything about a suspect.

The prison was put on lockdown after Sullivan's body was discovered, and remained locked down as of Thursday evening. ..more.. by KSWO TV

Deputies kill man wanted on molestation complaint

12-11-2006 Oklahoma:
NORMAN, Okla. Cleveland County sheriff's deputies fatally shoot a man they were trying arrest six complaints, including incest and child molestation.

Sheriff's Captain Doug Blaine says 41-year-old Glen Bell was shot about 11 A-M yesterday near his home about two miles south of Norman.

Blaine says deputies had an arrest warrant for Bell, who was sought on a child molestation complaint, an incest complaint, two rape complaints and two forcible sodomy complaints.

He says when deputies arrived, a witness told them Bell was armed and about to barricade himself inside the home. Deputies reported seeing a man armed with a rifle run out the back of the house into a wooded area.

Two deputies fired several shots at the man -- later identified as Bell -- striking him.

Bell was taken to Norman Regional Hospital, where he died shortly after noon.

The deputies have been placed on paid leave pending an investigation into shooting. ..more.. by KTEN 10

Former Minister Fatally Stabbed in Prison Cell

6-14-1994 Oklahoma:

OKLAHOMA CITY - Less than a month after being removed from protective custody, a former Presbyterian minister serving a 40-year prison sentence for lewd molestation and rape was stabbed to death in his cell.

At least two inmates have been implicated in the stabbing death of Robert Bruce Bridgen, 60, who was found at 7 p.m. Sunday in his cell at Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at Elkview General Hospital in Hobart.

The two prisoners, who were not identified, and several other inmates also tied to the stabbing, were separated from the prison's general population shortly after the attack, prison spokesman Josh McCurdy said.

Bridgen originally was charged with 20 counts of lewd molestation and one count of rape by instrumentation stemming from acts involving girls age 4 to 14 who attended his Alva church.

He was convicted in June 1992 of eight counts of lewd molestation and one count of rape by instrumentation.

Trish States of Alva, whose daughter testified against Bridgen, said she was relieved at the news of the former minister's death. "I feel sorry for the family, don't get me wrong, but I'm glad Mr. Bridgen is gone because he can no longer do harm to any more children or any other innocent families," she said. "Right now I feel like whoever did this, I thank them for it because justice has been done."

Bridgen, who maintained his innocence, was appealing his conviction to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, said Ron W. Bittle, Bridgen's trial lawyer, of Alva. "The sad thing about this is I believe he had an excellent chance of getting a new trial," Bittle said.

McCurdy said at least two inmates entered Brigden's cell about 7 p.m. Sunday and stabbed him numerous times in the chest and legs. ..more.. by Barbara Hoberock