I’ve been digging into the details surrounding E.C. Mullendore III’s murder and find the role of the Cross Bell Ranch itself intriguing. Could the sheer size and wealth of the ranch have complicated the investigation? At 130,000 acres, it seems like a vast and challenging area for law enforcement to handle, especially in 1970. Beyond that, the wealth tied to the ranch might have influenced how the case was pursued and how people connected to E.C. were treated. It makes me wonder if this environment of wealth and power contributed to the muddied investigation. It’s sad to think that such a large part of Oklahoma history is clouded by errors and unanswered questions. How do you all think the ranch’s prestige and size might have affected the investigation’s direction or the willingness of people to speak out about what really happened that night? My thoughts are with his family and loved ones who still don’t have the answers they deserve.
