In the small town of Velma, Oklahoma, the community was shaken by the tragic death of 60-year-old Terry Keith Sutton, a lifelong resident, on April 3, 2024. The Caucasian male was discovered deceased in his pickup truck, which was submerged in a pond, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. The initial discovery launched a thorough investigation by the Stephens County Sheriff's Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
As investigators delved into the circumstances
surrounding Sutton's death, their efforts led them to a suspect. On April 29, 2024, authorities arrested 74-year-old Charlus Terry Bishop of Loco. The arrest was made as deputies were attempting to execute a search warrant on Bishop's property. He was taken into custody at a different location as he tried to leave and was subsequently booked into the Stephens County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder.
The investigation uncovered a motive rooted in a personal conflict. Court records revealed that both Sutton and Bishop were reportedly involved in a relationship with the same woman. Evidence gathered by law enforcement, including video footage and witness statements, played a crucial role in identifying Bishop as the suspect. Witnesses reported seeing two trucks, matching the descriptions of those belonging to Sutton and Bishop, at an intersection shortly before hearing a gunshot. Video from a nearby home's security camera captured Sutton's white pickup and, minutes later, Bishop's brown truck speeding away. Furthermore, cellphone data contradicted Bishop's initial statement to police, placing him at the scene of the shooting at the approximate time it occurred. It is believed that after being shot, Sutton managed to drive a short distance before his truck crashed into the pond where he was later found.
Less than a year after the incident, the legal proceedings came to a conclusion. On April 16, 2025, Charlus Terry Bishop pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Terry Sutton. As a result of his plea, Bishop was sentenced to life in prison. This brought a resolution to a case that had deeply affected the Velma community, leaving behind the memory of Terry Sutton, a man known for his love of horses, rodeo, and his family.
