In the quiet evening of September 9, 2018, in Lawton, Oklahoma, the life of 25-year-old Florence Martha Groene was irrevocably altered. Around 10:30 p.m., the sound of two gunshots broke the stillness in the 400 block of NW 55th Street. Neighbors, startled by the noise, rushed to see what had happened and found Florence outside her home, bleeding profusely from gunshot wounds.
Emergency services were called, and she was transported to a hospital in Oklahoma City in a desperate attempt to save her life.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, Florence succumbed to her injuries two days later, on September 11, 2018. The investigation into her death revealed that the fatal shots were fired from outside her residence. The Lawton Police Department began a homicide investigation, piecing together the events of that tragic night. However, the case grew cold, with no suspects publicly identified and no arrests made in connection with her murder.
Florence, a mother of three, had recently reconnected with her two brothers after a period of separation during their childhood. In the wake of her death, her family was left searching for answers and justice. Her brother, Terrill Smith, offered a $5,000 reward for any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for her death. The community was left to mourn the loss of a young mother, whose life was cut short by an act of violence that remains unsolved.
