In the fall of 2019, a heart-wrenching event unfolded in Lawton, Oklahoma, culminating in the death of 6-year-old Emily Emma Lena Mary Cliburn. A bright and loving girl, Emily was a kindergartener at Geronimo Elementary School. She was known for her protective and caring nature, especially towards her younger brother, with whom she was exceptionally close.
Those who knew her described a happy child who delighted in playing with her cousins and her Barbie dolls.
On Saturday, October 5, 2019, the lives of Emily and her family were irrevocably shattered. In an act of domestic violence, Emily, her 5-year-old brother, Christopher James Robert 'Kristo' Cliburn, and their 34-year-old mother, Krystle Easley, were all tragically killed. The person responsible for this devastating loss was identified as the children's father and Krystle's partner, who took his own life after committing the murders.
The community was left to mourn the sudden and violent loss of the young family. Funeral services were held to remember Emily, her brother, and her mother. Emily was laid to rest at Mt. Scott KCA Tribal Cemetery in Meers, Oklahoma. The incident left a profound scar on the community, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence. As this was a murder-suicide, the perpetrator died at the scene, and consequently, no arrests were made in connection with this case.
