In the quiet neighborhood of north Tulsa, Oklahoma, a grim scene unfolded on the evening of November 23, 2013, forever altering the lives of several families. Inside a home on North New Haven Avenue, 35-year-old Melissa Lynn Dake was with her husband, Charlie Dean Dake Jr., and several other individuals when a gunman entered and opened fire. The brutal attack resulted in the deaths of Melissa, her husband, and two other women, Glenda Ellen Harper, 54, and Tammy Brunson, 46.
The assailant
reportedly entered the residence through a back door, confronting the group who had gathered in a converted garage before shooting them at close range. Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while Melissa and another victim succumbed to their injuries at a local hospital. A fifth individual was also shot but survived. In the midst of the chaos, several children who were present in the home were physically unharmed.
In the years that have passed since the quadruple homicide, the case has grown cold, leaving a lingering sense of unanswered questions and a void in the community. Law enforcement officials have acknowledged investigating numerous leads but have not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the murders. Investigators have considered the possibility that the shooting may have been drug-related, as there had been previous drug-related arrests associated with the residence.
The sole survivor of the attack has cooperated with the police investigation, though authorities have suggested that challenges with substance abuse may have affected the clarity of the information provided. The case remains an open and active investigation, with law enforcement appealing to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in solving the tragic deaths of Melissa Lynn Dake and the other three victims.
