Relatives Charged in 30-Year-Old Murder Case in Oklahoma

In a significant development in a decades-old murder case, police in Oklahoma have arrested two relatives of 81-year-old Gerthie Carolina, whose brutal murder in 1997 remained unsolved until recently. The pair is believed to have been motivated by a $40,000 inheritance linked to Carolina’s estate.

The Crime

Gerthie Carolina was found murdered in her home in Sasakwa, a small town in Oklahoma, in August 1997. Following a violent attack, she was brutally beaten, stabbed, and left to die on her kitchen floor, mere months after she had updated her will.

Investigation Breakthrough

The case went cold for nearly 30 years until it was reopened by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) in 2023. Investigators identified crucial evidence from the crime scene: a shoe containing traces of Carolina’s blood.

This critical piece of evidence led to a match with the victim’s grandniece, Dakota Davis, who was just 17 years old at the time of the murder. Authorities arrested Davis, now 45, and her relative Carolyn Foreman, Carolina’s niece.

Charges Filed

Both Davis and Foreman, 81 and reportedly suffering from dementia, were charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Law enforcement noted that shortly after Carolina’s death, the two allegedly withdrew $40,000 from a trust linked to the deceased.

Official Statement

District Attorney Erik Johnson expressed his commitment to justice, stating, “This case is a testament to the relentless dedication of these investigators and our unwavering pursuit of justice, even decades after a crime is committed. We hope this brings some measure of peace to Gerthie Carolina’s family after all these years.”