Oklahoma City Butcher

Overview

The Oklahoma City Butcher is the chilling moniker given to an unidentified serial killer who terrorized Oklahoma City between 1976 and 1986. This elusive predator is believed to have murdered, dismembered, and mutilated three young homeless Native American women, leaving behind a grisly trail that has haunted the community for decades.

Quick Facts

• Other Names: OKC Butcher
• Years Active: 1976–1986
• Victims: 3 confirmed
• Country: United States
• State: Oklahoma
• Date Apprehended: N/A

The Victims

Cathy Lyn Shakelford

The story begins with Cathy Lyn Shakelford, a member of the Sac and Fox Nation. At just 17 years old, Cathy ran away from home, finding herself homeless in the unforgiving streets of Oklahoma City. The last confirmed sighting of her was two months before her death when she was treated for an undisclosed issue at the Oklahoma City Hospital.

On April 1, 1976, a group of oil workers stumbled upon a horrific scene in an abandoned house. They found Cathy’s severed head chillingly displayed in a popcorn bucket. As investigators combed through the house, they discovered her dismembered limbs and torso scattered throughout various rooms. Even more disturbing, her sexual organs and hand were missing, and her face had been grotesquely mutilated, with a smile carved into her skin.

For years, Cathy remained unidentified. It wasn’t until 1993, when her cousin, Andra Medina, reported her missing, that the case took a turn. Sergeant Norma Adams connected the dots, and through DNA testing, they confirmed that the unidentified remains belonged to Cathy Lyn Shakelford.

Arley Bell Killian

Fast forward to April 19, 1979, when the unsettling discovery of a human head sent shockwaves through a local neighborhood. Children playing basketball stumbled upon the severed head of 22-year-old Arley Bell Killian. Over the next few days, police unearthed more of her dismembered body parts scattered throughout the area, some wrapped in bags and newspapers. What’s particularly eerie is the absence of blood found on the remains, leading investigators to believe that the killer had washed them before disposal.

Arley had been homeless, struggling with substance abuse, and was last seen just hours before her head was found. As police continued their search, they found more body parts over the following months, sparking speculation that the killer was toying with law enforcement, almost like a macabre game of cat and mouse.

Tina Marcia Sanders

The final victim in this tragic saga was Tina Marcia Sanders, another 22-year-old homeless Native American woman. On March 6, 1986, her torso and left leg turned up in an alleyway, discovered by a man in his backyard. A week later, a horrifying revelation came when her head—set ablaze—was found in a nearby garbage bin. Tina was quickly identified thanks to her distinctive tattoos. Remarkably, she had been seen just a day before her heartbreaking death.

Announcement of a Serial Killer

The discovery of Tina Sanders’ remains prompted police to make a grim announcement: they believed a serial killer was at large, linking her murder to the previous two. All three victims shared tragically similar fates—they were dismembered, mutilated, and all had their sexual organs removed, which were never recovered. Notably, each woman was young, homeless, and of Native American descent, raising concerns about a targeted attack against marginalized communities.

Suspect

Henry Lee Lucas

One name that arose in connection to this chilling case was Henry Lee Lucas, a notorious drifter and serial killer who confessed to a staggering number of unsolved murders. Among those was the murder of Arley Bell Killian. However, Lucas's credibility was questionable, as he had a long history of fabricating confessions, casting doubt on whether he was actually involved in the Oklahoma City Butcher case.

Conclusion

The Oklahoma City Butcher case remains an open investigation, shrouded in mystery and darkness. The stories of Cathy Lyn Shakelford, Arley Bell Killian, and Tina Marcia Sanders continue to resonate, serving as a haunting reminder of the lives lost and the importance of justice for those who have been silenced.

Sources

• "City Police Link 3 Grisly Slayings." Oklahoman.com. April 17, 1986.
• "Cathy Shakelford, Arley Killian, and Tina Sanders: Three Native Women Murdered in Oklahoma believes to be a serial killer's victims." Archived from the original on December 10, 2021.
• "DNA Tests Identify '76 Slaying Victim." Oklahoman.com. November 30, 1993.
• "The Daily Oklahoman - Children Find Human Head" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 10, 2021.
• "Police Find Severed Hand, Shoe" (PDF). The Daily Oklahoman.
• "Victim Led 'Difficult Life,' Police Say" (PDF).
• "The Daily Herald - OKC Police Identify Head, Hand" (PDF).
• "More Body Parts Found; Discovery Downplayed" (PDF).
• "The Daily Oklahoman - Skull, Body Parts Possibly Identified" (PDF). The Daily Oklahoman.
• Peirano, Andrea (April 19, 2022). "The 'Oklahoma City Butcher' • Unsolved." www.oddmurdersandmysteries.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2022.
• "Playthings of a Killer" (PDF). The Daily Oklahoman.
• "Police Link 3 Grisly Slayings" (PDF). The Daily Oklahoman.
• "Henry Lee Lucas Dies in Prison." ABC News.