In the summer of 2017, what initially appeared to be a tragic traffic accident in Oklahoma City quickly unraveled into a grim homicide investigation. On July 10th, first responders were called to a burning vehicle near North Air Depot Boulevard and East Wilshire Boulevard. Inside, they discovered the body of 27-year-old Bashar Burks. Investigators at the scene noted that Burks had signs of trauma that occurred before the crash and the fire, leading them to believe his death was not an
accident.
The case took another dark turn the following day when the body of Burks's girlfriend, 30-year-old Ashley Easton, was found in a nearby ditch. She had been shot in the head and neck. This discovery solidified the belief that both Burks and Easton were victims of a homicide. The investigation soon focused on Mario James Normore, a 27-year-old co-worker of Burks. It was revealed that Burks and Easton had given Normore a ride home on the day of their deaths. An argument erupted between Burks and Normore during the drive, which culminated in Normore shooting Burks in the head before also shooting and killing Easton. After the murders, Normore set the vehicle on fire with Burks's body still inside and discarded Easton's body in the ditch where she was later found.
In September 2018, while already in custody for a string of armed robberies, Mario Normore was charged with four counts of first-degree murder, including the deaths of Bashar Burks and Ashley Easton. He was also implicated in the deaths of two other individuals, Searra Howe and James Knowles. To avoid the death penalty, Normore pleaded guilty to all charges in March 2023. He received four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
