Do you know who murdered Wiletta? In the early morning hours of August 29, 2009, the quiet neighborhood near Woodrow and Cincinnati in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was shattered by the sound of gunfire. At approximately 3:30 a.m., a barrage of around 40 shots was fired into the home of 61-year-old Wiletta May Patrick. A dedicated employee of Tulsa Public Schools for 24 years, she was a beloved mother, grandmother, and foster parent who had opened her home to many children over the years.
Inside the house at 218 E.
Woodrow Place, Patrick was in her bedroom when a bullet struck her in the head, ending her life. The hail of bullets also injured her two young grandchildren, who were struck by falling debris. When police arrived at the scene, they found a chaotic scene and spent hours collecting shell casings from what was determined to be at least three different firearms. Investigators believe that Patrick was not the intended victim of the drive-by shooting, but rather an innocent bystander caught in a violent act likely meant for someone else who frequented her home.
In the wake of the tragedy, details emerged about recent troubles Patrick had experienced with her brother and his wife, both of whom had criminal records. She had recently gone through the legal process to have them removed from her home. Despite this information, no arrests have ever been made in connection with her murder. Her case remains an unsolved cold case with the Tulsa Police Department, a painful open chapter for a woman who had dedicated her life to caring for others.
