In the small town of Achille, Oklahoma, a quiet Friday afternoon was shattered by the discovery of a beloved community member's death. James Roy Scoggins, a 68-year-old male, was found deceased in his home near the intersection of South 7th and A Avenues. The initial call to the Achille Police Department around 12:30 p.m. reported a shooting, and upon arrival, officers found Scoggins in his bed with a fatal gunshot wound to the back of his head.
The scene was quickly secured, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist with the homicide investigation.
As investigators began to piece together the events leading to Scoggins's death, their focus soon turned to one individual: 44-year-old Justin Michael Stone. According to the victim's brother, Timothy Lee Scoggins, James Scoggins and Stone had been in a relationship for approximately eight years. Timothy told authorities that he had become concerned after his brother failed to answer his phone calls. When he went to check on him, he found Stone at the residence. After forcing his way inside, he made the tragic discovery of his brother's body. An H&K. 45 caliber pistol was found under the pillow James was lying on, with a spent cartridge case nearby.
In the moments after the discovery, Stone's behavior was described as erratic. He allegedly fled the scene, stating he was going to Dallas. Law enforcement was able to locate and apprehend him in the nearby town of Colbert. Following his arrest, Justin Michael Stone was charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Bryan County Jail. A judge set his bond at $1,000,000. The community was left to mourn the loss of Scoggins, an Army veteran and a former paramedic who had retired to Achille to care for his mother. He was remembered by friends and family as a cherished individual who will be deeply missed.
