In the early morning hours of October 5, 1983, a routine traffic stop on Highway 97, between Sapulpa and Sand Springs, Oklahoma, turned fatal for a young state trooper. Travis Leon Bench, a 27-year-old White male and a dedicated member of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, pulled over a vehicle driven by Charles Enoch Brown. Upon checking Brown's license, Trooper Bench discovered it was suspended.
As Trooper Bench attempted to place Brown under arrest, the situation escalated dramatically.
Brown retrieved a pistol and opened fire on the trooper, striking him in the head. Despite being rushed for medical attention, Travis Leon Bench succumbed to his injuries two hours later. He had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for one year and had previously been with the Sapulpa Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife and their 3-month-old daughter.
Following the shooting, a swift investigation led to the arrest of Charles Enoch Brown. He was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Trooper Bench. The case proceeded to trial in Creek County, where a jury found Brown guilty of the murder. Although the prosecution sought the death penalty, the jury ultimately sentenced Brown to life in prison. This conviction, however, was later overturned in 1997 due to Brown's mental status, and he was subsequently committed to a state hospital.
