In the summer of 2015, the community of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was shaken by the violent death of a well-known local figure. Charley Wesley Kirk, an 88-year-old male rancher, was found shot and killed in his home in what appeared to be a robbery gone wrong. His death, occurring on or around July 27, 2015, brought a tragic end to a long life rooted in the region.
Kirk was a lifelong rancher and businessman, known for his skill with horses and his decades-long operation of the Tahlequah live stock auction.
The investigation into the death of Charley Kirk quickly led to the identification of two suspects, 24-year-old Paul Newberry and 22-year-old Cheyenne Watts. Authorities reported that the pair had confessed to breaking into Kirk's home with the intent to burglarize it. However, during the commission of the crime, the situation escalated, resulting in the fatal shooting of the elderly rancher. In their statements to law enforcement, both Newberry and Watts pointed the finger at the other for pulling the trigger, leaving the ultimate responsibility for the murder in dispute between them.
The arrest of the two suspects came about with the assistance of a Choctaw Nation police officer who identified a suspicious vehicle outside a tribal casino in McAlester. This crucial observation led to the apprehension of Newberry and Watts, bringing a swift development to the case that had stunned the local community. While one of the suspects, Paul Newberry, was identified as being Native American, the focus of the investigation remained on the violent act that ended the life of a respected community member.
