Do you know who murdered Vernon? In the winter of 1990, a gathering at the Tulsa, Oklahoma mobile home of Vernon “VB” Burl Hopkins, Jr. took a tragic and mysterious turn. On the night of January 12th, the 40-year-old disabled Marine veteran was hosting a party. As the night wore on and guests came and went, many noticed Hopkins lying on the kitchen floor, assuming he had simply passed out from drinking.
Even his new roommate, arriving after midnight to a party of strangers, saw him on the floor and, not knowing anyone, decided to go to bed.
The following morning, January 13th, the roommate left for the day, still believing Hopkins was merely sleeping off the night's festivities. It wasn't until another partygoer returned to retrieve some clothing and saw Hopkins in the exact same position that concern began to mount. This individual made an anonymous call to the Tulsa Police Department to report the unsettling scene. When officers arrived at the residence at 6105 E. 28th Place North, they made a grim discovery. Hopkins had not passed out; he had been shot once in the chest.
Investigators determined that the fatal shot was fired through the front door of the mobile home sometime after midnight on the 13th. The revelation shifted the perception of the scene from one of post-party slumber to a homicide investigation. At the time, law enforcement officials stated that they had multiple suspects in the killing of Vernon Hopkins. However, despite these initial leads, no arrests were ever made in connection with his murder. The case eventually went cold, leaving the question of who was responsible for the death of the Marine veteran unanswered.
