On the second floor of the Okmulgee County Courthouse, a towering 12-foot Christmas tree quietly glows – its branches carrying a weight far heavier than tinsel or lights. Each delicate ornament holds the name of a victim whose life was taken by violent crime in Okmulgee County, a solemn reminder of lives cut short and families forever changed.
Tragically, the tree grows heavier each year.
“Three more names were added to the tree in 2025,” said Carol Iski, District Attorney for Okmulgee and McIntosh Counties. “Our tree is just a small but heartfelt tribute to those lost lives.”
This season marks the eighteenth year the Okmulgee County District Attorney’s Office has displayed the Victims’ Tree at the courthouse. While most families gather during the holidays to celebrate and reconnect, each ornament represents a place at a table that will never again be filled – an empty chair that remains long after the season ends.
The District Attorney’s Office hopes that the ornaments serve not only as a memorial, but as a gesture of honor and respect to the victims and the loved ones who carry their memories forward.
Gratitude is also extended to the Okmulgee and Henryetta Walmart stores, whose donations made it possible to purchase the new 12-foot tree and ornaments that keep this important tradition alive.
Families who have lost someone to violent crime in Okmulgee County and would like an ornament placed on their behalf may contact Kelsey Kossakowski at 918752-2939.
— Law Enforcement Officers Thomas Adkins Burton Brewer Robert Burden Felix Chapman Joe Clay Walton Henbree Ron Jackson Henry Klaber Harry Liles John Lung W.J. McAnally Bill McClendon William Edgar Robinson Homer Spaulding Kenneth Strang — Victims List
Rylee Allen Justin Archambo Destiny Arnold Timothy Bacon Jeanna Bailey Brenda Barker Anthony Barlow Andrew Belmontes Nicholas Belmontes Ruby Biggs Johnny Breashers Brittany Brewer Gary Britt Larry Joe Brown Cameron Burgess, Jr. Estelle Burrelle Jima Burroughs Wesley Butler, Jr. Autumn Cannady Anna Casey Jacqueline Casey Lily Casey Justin Caywood Evelyn “Kaye” Chandler Jack Chandler Ronald “Bubba” Chandler Billy Chastain Mark Chastain Khalel Clark Anthony Cooks Ray Courtermanche Tonia Cruze Jarrell Dean Caleb Deerinwater Derrick Deere Dean Denny Dominic Duclos Alex Dorso Larry Durrett James Eaton Tiffany Eichor Jesse Ernest Sarah Ferqueron Courtney Freeman Kenneth Fultz III Johnny Gordon Delsin Gouge Jason Graham Timmy Graves Susan Green Devonte Hanson Gwen Hansen Tammy Harjo Bill Harvey Dalayvain Hearne Robert Henry Henry Heller Nicholas Herring Kobe Haynes Randall James Hall Jim Anthony Hall Rebecca Hamilton Piper Haney Mary Beth “Penny” Kafer Justyn King Landon Jewell Alina Johnson Rebecca Johnson Jeremy Jones John Henry Knott Shirley Mann Michael Mayo Blackie McCormick Holly McFadden Natalya McHenry Ashley Mead Darla Maxwell Johnny Stem Donna Stem Howard Carder Cindy (Kaler) Montgomery Victor Morgan Edmond Miller Nacoma Thornton Denver Livingston Kenneth Livingston David Olson Mikail Parker Timothy Parenti Joshua Pascale Taylor Paschal-Placker John Perryman Jonathan Pigeon Sandra Sands Lucius Bob Sanders Nicholas Shaver Paul Shields Riaz Shahid David Shores Gene Slape Brenda Smith Lois Smith Jimmy Spears-Southern Alexray Stevens Brycen Strong Vernon Sutton Shelly Tash Ashley Taylor Daneka Taylor Rodney Thomas Leonardo Towe Tim Vandiver Addison Waddell Laron Ward Bobby Warner Tristan Waters Ivy Webster Skyla Whitaker Kayson Toliver Kloee Toliver Edwin Reid Clay Reynolds Donald Richardson James Richardson Linn Rodgers John Rubison Jamieson Weeden Jeffrey Little Wolfe W.C. Wood Allen Wright Sarah Yancey Kyra Zubah
