In the late hours of a Friday night in Verdigris, Oklahoma, the sound of loud music emanated from the home of Susan Leathers and her husband, William. A neighbor across the street heard the noise before heading to bed, unaware of the tragic events that would soon unfold. The following morning, that same neighbor was awakened by police at the door, the beginning of a grim discovery. Inside the home, officers found a horrific scene.
Susan, a 32-year-old female, was on the floor, covered in blood, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound to her face.
Her husband, William Leathers, was found at the door, also covered in blood. His account of what had transpired shifted, with one version claiming he had been 'playing' with a pistol when it discharged, striking his wife in the head. The couple's young child was also present in the house at the time of the incident and was subsequently taken into the custody of the Department of Human Services before being placed with Susan's family members. The investigation into the night of February 27, 2015, quickly pointed to a violent end to Susan's life at the hands of her husband.
William Leathers, who was 29 years old at the time, was initially arrested for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, as he had a criminal history that included DUI and animal cruelty. The charges were soon escalated to first-degree murder. The Rogers County District Attorney's office assured Susan's family that they would seek justice for her death. Ultimately, William Leathers waived his right to a jury trial and entered a cold plea. A Rogers County judge sentenced him to life in prison for the murder of his wife, with an additional 20 years for a felony DUI charge. At the time of the murder, he was already a four-time felon with other charges pending.
