In the summer of 2019, the life of 55-year-old Lela Marie Ellison, a female resident of Bethany, Oklahoma, was brought to a tragic and violent end. On August 5th, she was discovered deceased in her home, the victim of a fatal shooting. The events that unfolded painted a grim picture of domestic violence that had escalated to its most devastating conclusion.
Responding to a call to check on her welfare, police entered Lela's residence to find a somber scene.
Lela and her husband, Bobby Wayne Craig, were both found deceased in their bedroom. The investigation determined that the incident was a murder-suicide, with Craig having shot and killed Lela before turning the weapon on himself. This violent act was the culmination of what appears to have been a history of domestic turmoil.
Further investigation into the couple's past revealed previous instances of trouble. Approximately a year and a half before the fatal incident, Lela had contacted the police to report a chilling threat made against her by Craig. At that time, however, she ultimately chose not to press charges against him. This earlier cry for help underscored the pattern of abuse that unfortunately preceded the final, tragic event. In the wake of her death, Lela's family and friends were left to mourn the loss of a woman described as a devoted mother and grandmother, her life cut short in a senseless act of violence.
