Mario Normore
Oklahoma Serial Killer and Robber
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
TIME PERIOD
July 2017 - October 2017
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
Mario James Jerrell Normore, born April 23, 1991, is an American serial killer and bank robber who committed four murders between July 10 and October 3, 2017, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, shortly after being released from prison for a robbery conviction. The first two victims, 27-year-old Bashar Burks and his girlfriend, 30-year-old Ashley Easton, were shot in a vehicle that was later found burned with Burks' body inside; Easton's body was discovered the following day in a ditch. Normore, assisted by his cousin Brandon Lee Butler, then committed additional robberies and kidnapped 20-year-old Searra Howe, whom Normore shot and killed on August 18. The final victim, 57-year-old James Steven Knowles, was murdered on October 3, 2017. Normore was apprehended on October 27, 2017, and pleaded guilty to the murders in 2023, receiving four life sentences without the possibility of parole. Significant evidence includes ballistic findings linking Normore to the shootings and witness testimonies corroborating the sequence of events.
Investigators and the public speculate that Mario Normore's violent behavior may have been influenced by his affiliation with the Rollin' 20 Crips and his criminal background. Some believe that his quick descent back into crime after being released from prison indicates a pattern of recidivism common among individuals with similar histories. There are also theories suggesting that the argument leading to the murders was premeditated rather than a spontaneous act of violence.
The Dark Path of Mario Normore
Beginnings of a Troubled Life
In the heart of Oklahoma City, on April 23, 1991, Mario James Jerrell Normore came into the world. His early years remain largely shrouded in mystery, but by 2009, Normore had already stepped onto a path of crime. As a member of the Rollin' 20 Crips, a notorious faction of the Crips gang, he began to weave a life intertwined with the law. By 2010, a robbery conviction landed him an eight-year prison sentence. His release in May 2017 marked the beginning of a new, more sinister chapter.
Upon his release, Normore found employment at a recycling plant where he met Bashar Burks, a 27-year-old colleague. The friendship that blossomed would soon lead to a harrowing series of events that cast a long shadow over Oklahoma City.
A Deadly Summer
The summer of 2017 in Oklahoma City was marred by a string of brutal crimes. On July 10, Normore asked Burks for a ride home. Burks, accompanied by his girlfriend, 30-year-old Ashley Easton, obliged. What began as a simple favor quickly spiraled into violence. An argument erupted between Normore and Burks. Believing Burks was reaching for a weapon, Normore reacted with lethal force, shooting Burks in the head. The terrified Easton met the same fate shortly after.
In an attempt to cover his tracks, Normore set the car ablaze, leaving Burks' body to be discovered amidst the charred remains. Initially, authorities suspected a tragic car accident. However, the discovery of Easton's body in a nearby ditch the following day forced them to confront a more sinister reality: a double homicide.
A Cousin's Complicity and Further Violence
Normore's criminal spree did not end with the murder of Burks and Easton. In the weeks that followed, he enlisted his cousin, Brandon Lee Butler, as an accomplice in a series of bank robberies across Oklahoma City. Butler served as the getaway driver, marking the duo as a formidable criminal force.
Their next victim was Searra Howe, a 20-year-old acquaintance of Normore. On August 18, Normore and Butler visited Howe with the intent to steal her car. They kidnapped her, tied her up, and drove to a secluded forest near Jones. It was here that Normore's ruthless nature revealed itself once more. Despite Butler's deceitful promise to "shoot" Howe in the air to allow her escape, Normore impatiently took the gun and ended her life with a single shot to the head. Her disappearance remained a mystery until her remains were discovered on November 7, 2017.
The violence continued on October 3, when Normore targeted James Steven Knowles, a 57-year-old maintenance man and landlord. Normore shot and killed Knowles, disposing of his body in a location that remains undiscovered. The motives behind this murder vary; Normore alternately claimed Knowles was a snitch or that he refused to return $20 owed to him.
In a final act of betrayal, Normore attempted to murder his cousin Butler, but his weapon jammed, sparing Butler's life.
The Arrest and Legal Proceedings
The law finally caught up with Normore on October 27, 2017. His arrest followed connections to ten robberies around Oklahoma City, though his involvement in the murders was not immediately recognized. It was nearly a year later when authorities linked him to the series of killings, charging him with four counts of murder.
Legal proceedings were fraught with delays, the first court hearing originally set for December 2017 but postponed until January 2018. A pivotal moment came in 2019 when Butler, granted immunity in exchange for his testimony, revealed chilling details of Howe's murder. His account depicted Howe's desperate pleas for her life before Normore silenced her forever.
Normore's time in custody was marked by further violence. On September 23, 2018, he participated in a jailbreak attempt at the Oklahoma County Detention Center. Armed with a makeshift shank, he and two other inmates assaulted guards and damaged security infrastructure. Another escape attempt in March 2022 saw Normore attacking a guard after requesting a tablet, resulting in charges of assault and battery.
The Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Facing the prospect of the death penalty, Normore opted to plead guilty on March 21, 2023, to all charges: four murders and ten robberies. His decision, he claimed, was influenced by the impact on the victims' families, seeking to spare them additional suffering. Consequently, he received four consecutive life sentences without parole.
The victims' families breathed a sigh of relief, even as questions lingered regarding District Attorney Vicki Behenna's decision not to pursue the death penalty. The resolution, however, brought an end to a harrowing ordeal that had gripped the community.
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First Murders Committed
Mario Normore shoots Bashar Burks and Ashley Easton.
Searra Howe Kidnapped
Normore and his cousin kidnap Searra Howe; she is later murdered.
James Knowles Murdered
Normore kills maintenance man James Knowles.
Arrested for Robberies
Normore is arrested in connection with ten bank robberies.
Initial Court Hearing
First court hearing scheduled for Normore's murder charges.
Witness Testifies
Cousin Brandon Butler testifies about Searra Howe's murder.
Guilty Plea
Normore pleads guilty to four murders and ten robberies.
Sentenced to Life
Normore sentenced to four life terms without parole.
Mario James Jerrell Normore, born April 23, 1991, is an American serial killer and bank robber who committed four murders between July 10 and October 3, 2017, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, shortly after being released from prison for a robbery conviction. The first two victims, 27-year-old Bashar Burks and his girlfriend, 30-year-old Ashley Easton, were shot in a vehicle that was later found burned with Burks' body inside; Easton's body was discovered the following day in a ditch. Normore, assisted by his cousin Brandon Lee Butler, then committed additional robberies and kidnapped 20-year-old Searra Howe, whom Normore shot and killed on August 18. The final victim, 57-year-old James Steven Knowles, was murdered on October 3, 2017. Normore was apprehended on October 27, 2017, and pleaded guilty to the murders in 2023, receiving four life sentences without the possibility of parole. Significant evidence includes ballistic findings linking Normore to the shootings and witness testimonies corroborating the sequence of events.
Investigators and the public speculate that Mario Normore's violent behavior may have been influenced by his affiliation with the Rollin' 20 Crips and his criminal background. Some believe that his quick descent back into crime after being released from prison indicates a pattern of recidivism common among individuals with similar histories. There are also theories suggesting that the argument leading to the murders was premeditated rather than a spontaneous act of violence.
The Dark Path of Mario Normore
Beginnings of a Troubled Life
In the heart of Oklahoma City, on April 23, 1991, Mario James Jerrell Normore came into the world. His early years remain largely shrouded in mystery, but by 2009, Normore had already stepped onto a path of crime. As a member of the Rollin' 20 Crips, a notorious faction of the Crips gang, he began to weave a life intertwined with the law. By 2010, a robbery conviction landed him an eight-year prison sentence. His release in May 2017 marked the beginning of a new, more sinister chapter.
Upon his release, Normore found employment at a recycling plant where he met Bashar Burks, a 27-year-old colleague. The friendship that blossomed would soon lead to a harrowing series of events that cast a long shadow over Oklahoma City.
A Deadly Summer
The summer of 2017 in Oklahoma City was marred by a string of brutal crimes. On July 10, Normore asked Burks for a ride home. Burks, accompanied by his girlfriend, 30-year-old Ashley Easton, obliged. What began as a simple favor quickly spiraled into violence. An argument erupted between Normore and Burks. Believing Burks was reaching for a weapon, Normore reacted with lethal force, shooting Burks in the head. The terrified Easton met the same fate shortly after.
In an attempt to cover his tracks, Normore set the car ablaze, leaving Burks' body to be discovered amidst the charred remains. Initially, authorities suspected a tragic car accident. However, the discovery of Easton's body in a nearby ditch the following day forced them to confront a more sinister reality: a double homicide.
A Cousin's Complicity and Further Violence
Normore's criminal spree did not end with the murder of Burks and Easton. In the weeks that followed, he enlisted his cousin, Brandon Lee Butler, as an accomplice in a series of bank robberies across Oklahoma City. Butler served as the getaway driver, marking the duo as a formidable criminal force.
Their next victim was Searra Howe, a 20-year-old acquaintance of Normore. On August 18, Normore and Butler visited Howe with the intent to steal her car. They kidnapped her, tied her up, and drove to a secluded forest near Jones. It was here that Normore's ruthless nature revealed itself once more. Despite Butler's deceitful promise to "shoot" Howe in the air to allow her escape, Normore impatiently took the gun and ended her life with a single shot to the head. Her disappearance remained a mystery until her remains were discovered on November 7, 2017.
The violence continued on October 3, when Normore targeted James Steven Knowles, a 57-year-old maintenance man and landlord. Normore shot and killed Knowles, disposing of his body in a location that remains undiscovered. The motives behind this murder vary; Normore alternately claimed Knowles was a snitch or that he refused to return $20 owed to him.
In a final act of betrayal, Normore attempted to murder his cousin Butler, but his weapon jammed, sparing Butler's life.
The Arrest and Legal Proceedings
The law finally caught up with Normore on October 27, 2017. His arrest followed connections to ten robberies around Oklahoma City, though his involvement in the murders was not immediately recognized. It was nearly a year later when authorities linked him to the series of killings, charging him with four counts of murder.
Legal proceedings were fraught with delays, the first court hearing originally set for December 2017 but postponed until January 2018. A pivotal moment came in 2019 when Butler, granted immunity in exchange for his testimony, revealed chilling details of Howe's murder. His account depicted Howe's desperate pleas for her life before Normore silenced her forever.
Normore's time in custody was marked by further violence. On September 23, 2018, he participated in a jailbreak attempt at the Oklahoma County Detention Center. Armed with a makeshift shank, he and two other inmates assaulted guards and damaged security infrastructure. Another escape attempt in March 2022 saw Normore attacking a guard after requesting a tablet, resulting in charges of assault and battery.
The Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Facing the prospect of the death penalty, Normore opted to plead guilty on March 21, 2023, to all charges: four murders and ten robberies. His decision, he claimed, was influenced by the impact on the victims' families, seeking to spare them additional suffering. Consequently, he received four consecutive life sentences without parole.
The victims' families breathed a sigh of relief, even as questions lingered regarding District Attorney Vicki Behenna's decision not to pursue the death penalty. The resolution, however, brought an end to a harrowing ordeal that had gripped the community.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Murders Committed
Mario Normore shoots Bashar Burks and Ashley Easton.
Searra Howe Kidnapped
Normore and his cousin kidnap Searra Howe; she is later murdered.
James Knowles Murdered
Normore kills maintenance man James Knowles.
Arrested for Robberies
Normore is arrested in connection with ten bank robberies.
Initial Court Hearing
First court hearing scheduled for Normore's murder charges.
Witness Testifies
Cousin Brandon Butler testifies about Searra Howe's murder.
Guilty Plea
Normore pleads guilty to four murders and ten robberies.
Sentenced to Life
Normore sentenced to four life terms without parole.