Carol Daniels’ Family and DA Burns criticize handling of Case
Just a few weeks into September, after the August 23rd brutal murder of Rev. Carol Daniels in Anadarko, Oklahoma, the victim’s family (namely her son) complained they were being “kept in the dark”. Two and half months later it appears the family is still not being communicated with. Carol Daniels’ mother, Charles Etta Dunlap, has now spoken publicly for the first time revealing the family has not been communicated with since the early days of the investigation.
Brett Burns, District Attorney, is also voicing concern over the lack of progress (and possibly information) from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Early on in the investigation the OSBI attempted to have information from the medical examiner’s office concerning the autopsy not released to the public. The medical examiner’s office determined they were required to release the information under the Oklahoma open records act. While a full autopsy report has yet to be released to the public, the medical examiner did release a partial report, and has subsequently released results from the toxicology tests on Daniels’ body.
After the comments by Ms. Dunlap and DA Burns, the Daily Oklahoman attempted to get a statement from OSBI Director A. DeWade Langley, but was denied access to him by the OSBI spokeswoman, Jessica Brown. She responded that it was her job to provide statements to the media. In defense of the agency, Ms. Brown stated that the investigation had been “stymied” by the media due to information it has released. Since there has been virtually no information officially made available to the media, it is unclear how any reporting could have caused issues for the investigation to date. Brown went on to state “It’s hard for us to bring someone in for questioning. The answers to the questions are all out there.”
Apparently the speculation that has taken place in the media and across internet communities has literally kerflunkeled the OSBI’s efforts. How that could, completely escapes me. DA Burns states he has offered the use of his investigator to the OSBI in an attempt to assist in keeping momentum in the investigation, however OSBI has only used him on a limited number of tasks. When Brown was asked if they might need to create a task force and bring in outside assistance such as the FBI, her response was that a task force would be of no good without leads.
That statement leads one to hope that the OSBI has not decided they “know what they don’t know”. How can they so confidently declare that no leads exist if they have not had a review by another agency to determine if a second set of eyes would come to the same conclusion?
Like the case of 13 year old Taylor Packer and 11 year old Skyla Whitaker, who were gunned down in June 2008 less than a mile from their home in a rural area near Weleetka, Oklahoma, it appears Ms. Daniels’ disturbing murder – which shows signs it could be the work of a serial killer – will be allowed to turn colder than it should before outside help is requested. No new leads have been reported in the Packer/Whitaker case in months.
The citizens of Oklahoma deserve better than this. This is not a case of the OSBI being denigrated, or referenced in a manner that would indicate incompetence, but the agency must be self-auditing to the point it can understand when it needs outside help. The matters of the Daniels’ murder are disturbing to all citizens in Oklahoma. They represent a “clear and present danger” that could strike again at any moment. The citizens need to know if there were indications of a hate-crime against African-Americans, or if there were indications it was a hate-crime against Christians, or if there is a strong indication this is a sexual-predator/murderer who could strike again without notice.
Dear OSBI – call in the FBI – please!
Valhall.
http://newsok.com/da-criticizes-osbi-over-carol-daniels-inquiry/article/3422863
Related posts:
- OSBI nows states they have leads in Carol Daniels’ Murder
- Carol Daniels: When Murder becomes Mystery
- Carol Daniels: Full Autopsy Released
- Aja Johnson Case: Hobbs’ Family Flunks Test
- Missing: The Jamison Family of Eufala, Oklahoma
Tags: anadarko, brett burns, carol daniels, oklahoma, osbi
14 People have left comments on this post
I understand that if this happened in my home town it would be unsettling,but this “open record thing” that makes available every step of any investigation to the public, does NOT help those that are acctually WORKING ON IT either…
1st off, today, keeping a family posted, due to the harrasment that JVM, NG & other media offer to the families, is more or less equivalent of posting the conclusions in the WWW, and then in many cases they have a person of interest and are waiting for them to do wrong thing or say more than they should, at any time…
Waiting quietly can be a perfect way to solve any given “mystery”.
..and finally, cause the police themselves might Not have a clue yet, about what really went on and dont want to speculate…
this of course, taking for granted that all the protocol procedures are being followed and the case is not being rushed “under the carpet”…
It might also be the fact that plenty of lunatics will be claiming “author rights” in this crime..and the only way to separate fact from fiction is to keep certain details hidden.
Are they already conecting it to the other victim also stabbed in a similar way?
Oh Val – both of these cases are so heartbreaking – and eerily silent. I’m in Texas and hubby went to OU and lived in Norman for many years. How can 2 little girls be virtually executed in a rural ditch not far from their homes and there be NOTHING at all to go on? How can this lovely deeply religious woman lose her life in what seems to be an obviously twisted demented manner – with possible witness sighting and there again be NOTHING? It sure appears that there are issues with asking for help and informing the public about the dangers possible in both cases. As you know – the South has its charms and its politics. They don’t necessarily go together.
What more can be said. This is the OSBI after all. They sit on their hands and hide behind their media spokeswoman. They are known for not cooperating with local LE or backing off altogether if they find the case too daunting. I am just shaking my head here. They would be on all points if this was a high profile victim….
Shame on them.
Thank you Val for posting about this case here. God bless this lovely woman and her family. I am so sorry that Oklahoma cannot or will not invest more energy and funds to solve this case. I am also sorry to say that I am not surprised in the least.
My heart breaks for her family who are growing more frustrated by the day at the lack of communication and information coming from LE. I hope the OSBI contacts the FBI and asks for their help in this case. It is so scary to think that the monster who did this is still on the loose and could strike again on another innocent victim. This statement made by Brown made no sense to me,“It’s hard for us to bring someone in for questioning the answers to the questions are all out there.” I don’t feel like there is a whole lot of information out there about this murder at all. The public has received a partial autopsy, a toxicology report, and little information about how Rev. Davis was found that day. That’s it! If I was a family member of Rev. Davis I would be very unhappy and speaking out as well. If LE would release more information it could trigger the memory of someone who could potentially call in the tip that would break the case and put the monster behind bars. Why was the back door removed and taken by LE? Was there something written on it? Was anything personal left by the killer? Has LE figured out who was “squatting/living” in the basement of the neighbor of the church? These are all questions that should be answered by LE because the answers could lead someone in the public to come forward with information on the killer.
Arden,
I WANT TO KNOW THAT TOO! That’s not a typical thing to rip the whole friggin backdoor off a building (especially a public building) and take it in as evidence. WTH is with that!
Filipa,
I think you might be misunderstanding. There has been NO information released by the OSBI to date on this murder. PERIOD. There is a big friggin ocean between NONE and TOO MUCH being released. We’re at NONE. So the audacity of an OSBI spokeswoman to claim that an entire state being left totally clueless in this murder, totally clueless as to what they should be aware of, concerned about, watching for…that she would imply that rumor and inuendo have “stymied” the OSBI investigation IS LUDICROUS. Are we to take from her comment that all rumors to date are SPOT ON!
Thanks a lot Ms. Brown for just letting the person know that the rumors have been confirmed.
And this is the same lady whose judgement we’re supposed to accept – that they don’t need outside help because they don’t have any leads. RIGHT!
We have a year and half double murder of an 11 and 13 year old – OSBI GONE SILENT AND GETTING NOWHERE.
We have a family of 3 who just disappeared into thin air – OSBI GONE SILENT AND GETTING NOWHERE.
We have a preacher murdered, mutilated, staged – OSBI GONE SILENT AND GETTING NOWHERE.
And if they don’t want us to think “they are getting nowhere”…then they need to talk to us every once in awhile. CAN’T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!
Well said Val, well said. Like I said in earlier posts, this case and others have been mis handled and under investigated.
They must be getting heat from somewhere as they recently opened up a Cold Case Unit. I give a big ha–rummph at that. Will they really give old cases another look or is this just window dressing and a media opportunity to look like they live /investigate cases in the 21st century?
They are going to find plenty of cold cases to investigate. The cynic in me thinks this is just another way to placate victims families and cover up past opportunities and failures.
But where did the link with other women came from? from observers only?
It wasnt the officials that conected those 2 cases? (left chest stabbed?)
I dont know if this is standart in that State, VAL…All I know is that not all states have the FL policy of open discussion on crimes..
What’s happening there ,that is annoying you, happens HERE AT ALL TIMES!!!!! the police does not even have a PR person to brief ppl on investigations…
It’s “secrecy policy” period.
Were not even questioning it anymore….Its how it is (remember the Mcann case? they did not even let go What evidence was there against parents (circunstancial, but plenty btw..)only after case close!!!
the outcome of that “detail” for instance?
the resort where the Mcanns were hollydaying (that was owned ny british company and quite profitable, WENT TO BANKRUPCY and closed…
Everyone though there was a kidnapper on the loose, and did not want to risk their kids safety…just in case!!!
there’s no point in ceasing all info access…I agree in that one!
(like everything else, it’s about balance; not much, not less)
At least you have other States, where other “info managment” exists, and hopefully by the existing precedent, you’ll be able to change things…(in your home state)
Here is natiowide blackout!
there’s no experience in any other M.O. and it would take no less then a revolution, to turn it around probably! lol
Oh, and since we’re in a “truth telling mode”, when things get ugly (like in that same case) the case does NOT get closer from being solved…but ussually, plenty of heads roll. I cant precise how many “head of investigative depatment” and Justice Bureau ministers and police detectives were fired/transfered (for trying to do it differently!!)
..and yet, case closed. No conclusions made public.
(However, a few of those “headless folks”/retired det’s decided to publish books/reports on the case. To be charged by the Mcanns with “defamation suits” that in civil court, ripped off the authors from any profiting ,since they could NOT PROOVE the book’s contents, with access denied to official evidence!)
makes sense? to me neither!
The OSBI is much like Mayberry (as in Andy Griffin fame). I read a book published by a former OSBI agent on the Girl Scout murders and the OSBI’s investigation was laughable. I kept reading parts of the book to my husband because it was so out there for an investigation into a triple murder. Something Barney Fife would do IMHO. Both cases of the two young girls and the minister should be handed over to the FBI. Too much “good-old-boy” stuff for anything professional to happen.
Thisbe, I agree. I just hope they stumble upon something before someone else gets hurt, and so violently so. I so hope.
Willow