On a summer day in Duncan, Oklahoma, the life of 34-year-old Lake Darrell Elven James, a White male, was tragically cut short. On June 3, 1985, James, who had been serving as a Lake Ranger for only four months, was responding to reports of gunfire in the northern region of the lake. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a dedicated public servant, a husband, and a father to a son and two daughters.
In what would be his final act of duty, Ranger James radioed to report that he was approaching a
brown and white van with the word 'security' marked on its side. Not long after this transmission, his body was discovered. He had been fatally shot with a shotgun. The community and the Duncan Police Department were shaken by the loss of one of their own in such a violent manner.
The investigation into the murder of Ranger James moved swiftly. His killer was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. The individual responsible for his death was subsequently convicted of murder and received a sentence of life in prison. In April of 2012, the convicted murderer was denied parole, ensuring they remained incarcerated for the crime that ended a young ranger's life and forever altered the lives of his family.
