In Tulsa, Oklahoma, a history of domestic abuse culminated in the tragic death of 45-year-old Charletta Thomas. After enduring years of violence, Thomas made the difficult decision to remove her boyfriend, Alonzo John Kelly III, from her home. This act of self-preservation, however, ultimately led to her murder. On March 19, 2016, Kelly returned to Thomas's residence on West 57th Street, where a final, fatal altercation occurred.
Prosecutors revealed that just moments before a 911 call
was made with no one on the line, Kelly had contacted a witness who overheard the couple arguing. During that call, Kelly chillingly told the witness to come over if he wanted to save her. Soon after, Kelly shot Thomas and then placed the 911 call, leaving the phone next to her unconscious body as he fled the scene. First responders arrived to find Thomas with a gunshot wound, and she did not survive her injuries. The investigation uncovered not only the extensive history of abuse but also surveillance footage of Kelly withdrawing funds from Thomas's bank accounts after her death, further solidifying the case against him.
For nearly two years, Alonzo Kelly remained a fugitive, his whereabouts unknown to authorities. His time on the run came to an end in 2018 when he was apprehended in Portland, Oregon, during a prostitution sting. Following his arrest, Kelly was tried and convicted by a jury of first-degree murder. A Tulsa judge subsequently sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole, bringing a measure of justice to the family of Charletta Thomas, who had spent five years navigating the legal system in the wake of their devastating loss.
