In a tragic incident in Chickasha, Oklahoma, 55-year-old James Lee Mayhugh, a male, was found deceased on Saturday, May 11, 2024, the victim of a triple homicide that also claimed the lives of his 54-year-old wife, Patty Jane Mayhugh, and their 28-year-old daughter, Shayla Lynn Mayhugh. The family was discovered in their home in the 1000 block of South 6th Street after a 911 caller reported seeing shell casings on the front porch.
Upon entering the residence, police found all three family members had been fatally shot.
The investigation quickly focused on the couple's son, 22-year-old Jacob Mayhugh. Authorities learned that Jacob had recently purchased an AR-15 style rifle, the same type of weapon found at the scene. He was declared a person of interest, and a search for him was initiated. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation took the lead in the case and issued a warrant for his arrest.
After a manhunt that lasted for three days, Jacob Mayhugh was located and apprehended in Oklahoma City's Bricktown district on Tuesday, May 14th. He was arrested without incident while sitting on a park bench. Following his arrest, court documents revealed that he confessed to the murders. Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting that Jacob had been planning additional acts of violence. It was reported that he had told his girlfriend he was going to his parents' house for pizza on the evening of the killings. A plate of pizza and a full pizza were later found inside the home.
Jacob Mayhugh was booked into the Grady County jail and has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors have indicated a high probability that they will seek the death penalty. Court records show that he ultimately pleaded guilty to the charges to avoid the death penalty and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
