Sherrie Lynn Harrison

In the pre-dawn hours of a summer morning in Lawton, Oklahoma, the life of Sherrie Lynn Harrison, a 25-year-old woman, came to a violent and mysterious end. Born in Fairview, Oklahoma, on October 25, 1969, Sherrie’s life was cut short in a brutal act that continues to haunt the community and her loved ones. At the time of her death, she was reportedly struggling with a cocaine dependency, a battle that led to a few minor criminal charges. Despite these struggles, she was a young woman whose chance to overcome her challenges was stolen from her.

The grim discovery was made at 5:05 a.m. on Thursday, August 17, 1995. Passersby found Sherrie Lynn Harrison lying in the roadway in the 400 block of Northwest Bell Avenue. It was immediately apparent that she had been either pushed or thrown from a moving vehicle. The force of the impact with the pavement was severe, causing numerous abrasions across her body and critical brain hemorrhages. However, the initial trauma of being ejected from the car was not what killed her.

An autopsy revealed the full horror of what Sherrie had endured before her final moments on the street. Investigators determined she had been stabbed a total of four times with a single-edged blade. Three of the wounds were to her left chest area, and a fourth was to her left lower thigh. The weapon used to inflict these fatal injuries was never recovered from the scene or in the subsequent investigation, leaving a crucial piece of evidence missing. The medical examiner also found traces of cocaine in her system, confirming her ongoing struggle with addiction.

The investigation into the homicide was launched by the Lawton Police Department, with the case also being listed among the state’s unsolved crimes by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI). Detectives worked to piece together Sherrie’s last hours, trying to identify the vehicle she was thrown from and the person or people she was with. The brutality of the crime—stabbing her before forcibly ejecting her from a moving car—suggested a personal and violent confrontation.

Decades have passed since Sherrie Harrison was killed, but the case has never been closed. It remains an active cold case homicide with both the Lawton Police Department and the OSBI. Investigators believe that someone in the community may have seen the vehicle involved, witnessed part of the altercation, or heard someone speak about the crime in the years that followed. Relationships change and loyalties shift over time, and authorities hold out hope that a witness may finally feel compelled to come forward with what they know.

As of today, no suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with Sherrie’s murder. Her case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of violence and the lingering pain for families who are left without answers. The OSBI continues to list Sherrie Lynn Harrison’s homicide in its cold case files, a public acknowledgment that justice has not yet been served.

The investigation into the murder of Sherrie Lynn Harrison remains open and active. Anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is urged to contact the Lawton Police Department at (580) 581-3270 or the OSBI at 1-800-522-8017. Tips can also be submitted to the OSBI via email at [email protected]. For those who wish to remain anonymous, information can be provided through the Lawton Crime Stoppers website.