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All things Kooky and Spooky in the Sooner (or Cowboy) state! Native Oklahomans and cousins, Jess and Tiff, explore all the dark history, paranormal, and true crime in their home state.
Copyright: © Curious Cousins OK
Oklahoma became a state in 1907…less than 10 short years later our nation was thrown into the very first World War. Where did that leave OK? What part did we play? This week Jess takes us through those beginning stages…or Part 1 of World War I Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's involvement in WWI evolved from initial aversion to enthusiastic participation due to economic pressures. The state experienced significant agricultural decline as European markets closed, leading to falling crop prices. As the U.S. prepared for war, Oklahoma began organizing for the draft, with high rates of registration despite initial resistance. The Green Corn Rebellion in 1917, driven by anti-draft sentiment among farmers, highlighted tensions within the state, leading to arrests and increased patriotism. Public sentiment shifted rapidly, with the government enforcing loyalty and suppressing dissent, further complicating the landscape for Oklahomans during the war. We wonder where all this was during OK History class…
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Tiff concludes her 2-parter this on one of OK’s worst bank robberies of all time…
On December 14, 1984, the Geronimo bank robbery and murder shocked the small town of Geronimo, Oklahoma, when 19-year-old Jay Wesley Neill, along with his boyfriend Robert Grady Johnson, committed heinous acts that resulted in the deaths of several bank employees and customers. Armed with a handgun and knife, Neill stabbed three female tellers, including a pregnant woman, and shot four customers, killing one. The duo fled with approximately $17,000 and was arrested three days later in San Francisco after using marked bills from the robbery. Both were convicted of murder and sentenced to death, with their appeals process taking seven years, during which unusual events, including competency trials and allegations of misconduct, unfolded.
As the legal proceedings continued, both men found themselves embroiled in a web of accusations and appeals. Neill, seeking to save his life, pleaded guilty while attempting to shift blame onto Johnson, leading to a renewed trial where he was again found guilty and sentenced to death. Johnson, who maintained his innocence, faced a trial with circumstantial evidence linking him to the crime but was ultimately convicted as well. The case raised significant questions about the influence of their sexual orientation in the judicial process, with some arguing that Neill's death sentence was affected by anti-gay bias. As of 2024, Johnson continues to file for new trials based on claims of withheld evidence, while the families of victims have also pursued civil actions against the bank for negligence regarding security measures.
Join us for the heartbreaking and tragic conclusion to one of Oklahoma’s darkest crimes.
Sources
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
Oklahoma’s Most Notorious Cases Volume 2 by Kent Frates
This week, Tiff tackles a truly savage and senseless case. A case that is still known as the deadliest bank robbery in recent Oklahoma history.
In part 1 of this two-parter, Tiff details the brutal Geronimo Bank Robbery on December 14, 1984, in Geronimo, Oklahoma, which resulted in the murders of four people and severe injuries to three others. The primary suspects were local men, Jay Wesley Neill (age 19) and Robert Grady Johnson (age 21), who were a couple facing severe financial hardship and were known to the small-town bank as "problem customers."
The attack began at 1:00 p.m. when Neill entered the First Bank of Chattanooga and held three female tellers hostage:
Kay Bruno (age 42, bank manager)
Jerri Bowles (age 19)
Joyce Mullenix (age 25 and six months pregnant)
While Neill was in the back room, several customers entered the bank. Neill took five customers hostage.
Ralph Zeller (age 33, farmer)
Bellen Robles (age 15) and her husband Reuben Robles (age 20) and their child Marie Robles (age 14-month-old baby)
Marilyn Roach (age 34, local restaurant owner)
The perpetrators fled by 1:30 p.m., leaving behind "a sea of bloody carnage."
Due to the severity, the FBI took jurisdiction. And the hunt for two men was on. Once the suspects were apprehended, all the strings started to unravel. The finger pointing started resulting in court room drama at its finest. Join us as we unwind the premeditation and planning that went into this heinous crime.
Sources:
Clark County Prosecuting Attorney
Oklahoma’s Most Notorious Cases Volume 2 by Kent Frates
Do you feel that tiny nip in the air? It must mean one thing…the start of SPOOKY SEASON! Jess will kick our favorite season off with a part 2 of the Spooks found at the University of Oklahoma.
The Donald W. Reynolds Performing Arts Center was originally built as The Auditorium in 1918. It is a historic building at the University of Oklahoma, but was later renamed Holmberg Hall in 1938 after Fredrick Holmberg, a key figure in the university's music program. In 2005, after a multimillion-dollar renovation, the building was renamed to honor Donald W. Reynolds and features Oklahoma's only European-style performance hall, hosting many famous visitors and significant university events. The center is home to ghost stories, particularly related to Professor Mildred Andrews Boggess, a prominent organist whose spirit is believed to linger, causing mysterious occurrences. Gittinger Hall, named after a notable history professor, is known for its ghostly secrets, including a "coffee-loving" spirit and unexplained sounds. The Delta Gamma Sorority House, on the OU campus, features a ghostly doll named Hannah, believed to embody the spirit of sisterhood, causing playful disturbances and pranks throughout the house.
We hope you cousins are ready for a spin-tingling good time!
Sources:
University of Oklahoma Website
This week Tiff dives in and discusses Oklahoma’s very own prima ballerina…Maria Tallchief.
Born Elizabeth Marie Tall Chief on January 24, 1925, on the Osage Indian Reservation in Oklahoma, Maria became not only Oklahoma’s, but also America's first major prima ballerina. She is celebrated for her dedication and pride in her heritage.
Rising from humble beginnings, she navigated dual cultural worlds, being trained rigorously by her ambitious mother, who ensured her daughters received artistic opportunities. Maria's ballet career flourished in Los Angeles under renowned instructors, leading her to join the prestigious Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in New York City. There, she gained recognition through her partnership with choreographer George Balanchine, who created roles specifically for her, showcasing her strength and technical prowess. Throughout her nearly two-decade tenure with the New York City Ballet, she became a key figure in American dance, known for iconic roles like the Firebird and the Sugar Plum Fairy. After retiring in 1966, she dedicated herself to teaching and preserving ballet, influencing future generations. Honored with numerous accolades, including a Kennedy Center Honor and the National Medal of Arts, Tallchief's legacy as a trailblazer and cultural icon continues to inspire dancers and audiences.
If you have an aspiring dancer, have them listen to this week’s story and dive in with us! Perhaps our next big prima ballerina is a CCOK fan!
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This week, Jess wraps up her second installment of Women on Death Row: Marilyn Kay Plantz. This story really feels like a textbook case, with all the betrayal, twists, turns, affairs, greed, and manipulation!
Marilyn Kay Plantz became discontent in her marriage to Jim Plantz, leading her to engage in an extramarital affair with 18-year-old William Bryson. Instead of seeking a divorce, she conspired with Bryson to murder her husband for the $300,000 life insurance payout. Jim's charred body was discovered in his burned pickup truck, and initially treated as a potential accident. However, the investigation revealed inconsistencies in Marilyn's behavior, such as her lack of emotional response to Jim's death and her swift attempt to claim the insurance money, which raised suspicions about her involvement. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered Marilyn's affair and her previous comments about wishing Jim were dead, indicating premeditated intent.
Following the investigation, Marilyn and Bryson were arrested, with Bryson eventually confessing to the murder plot in detail. He implicated Marilyn as the mastermind behind the crime, revealing that she had orchestrated the murder with calculated precision. During the trial, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence of Marilyn's manipulation and planning, while her defense argued she was not involved. Ultimately, both Marilyn and Bryson were found guilty of first-degree murder, and they received death sentences. Marilyn was executed by lethal injection on May 1, 2001, becoming the second woman executed in Oklahoma since 1907, while Bryson had been executed previously in 2000.
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We’re baaaaaaccckkkk!!
Welcome cousins to Season 4! We are so excited that you all are with us again this season!
We’re kicking off Season 4 with Jess’ second installment of “Women on Death Row”. This episode, part 1 of 2, covers Marilyn K Plantz.
Marilyn Kay Plantz, originally Marilyn Kay Sellers, was executed by lethal injection after spending 12 years on Oklahoma's Death Row. Born in 1960 into a modest, working-class family, Marilyn had a quiet upbringing that emphasized traditional roles for women. She married James "Jim" Plantz, her childhood sweetheart, at a young age, and they appeared to live a typical suburban life with their two children. However, underlying tensions began to surface as Marilyn grew increasingly dissatisfied with her domestic situation. Feeling emotionally isolated and unappreciated, she sought attention outside her marriage, which led to an affair with an 18-year-old named William Clifford Bryson.
This relationship quickly escalated from casual conversations to a deadly plan against Jim Plantz. Marilyn manipulated Bryson into believing her husband was abusive, fostering a scheme to stage Jim's death to collect on a life insurance policy. She involved Bryson's friend, Clinton McKimble, and together they plotted Jim's murder. On the night of August 26, 1988, after a brutal attack with a baseball bat, they attempted to set his body on fire in his truck. Following the murder, Marilyn helped cover up the crime and mislead investigators while her children remained asleep in the house. The tragic events ultimately led to her arrest and a trial that would reveal the shocking details of the crime.
Join us as we dive into how a church-going mother ended up on death row.
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Tiff is going to wrap Season 3 up with a banger of a creepy place…St. Vincent’s Home in Oklahoma City.
The property, often mistaken for an abandoned church, was once a hospital established in 1944 by the Catholic Brothers of Mercy. Initially intended to care for mentally and physically ill men and boys, the facility expanded over the years, adding more rooms and amenities. Its history includes a tragic incident in 1962 when a former nurse confessed to murdering patients, leading to the hospital's eventual closure. In 1968, the building was repurposed as a rehabilitation center for alcoholics and renamed The Main Artery, managed by Father Richard Frank Dolan until his unsolved murder in 1988.
Today, the property is private and strictly off-limits to the public due to safety concerns. Those who dare to visit report eerie experiences, such as cold sensations, strange noises, and sightings of shadows, reflecting its haunted reputation. Despite the risks, thrill-seekers and ghost hunters are drawn to the site, leading to increased security measures. The property remains a point of intrigue, with rumors of a demonic presence and ongoing paranormal investigations, but it is crucial to remember that entering the premises is illegal and dangerous.
And cousins, this ends Season 3! Thank you so much to all our friends, family, and fans! We couldn't and wouldn't do this without you. We hope you will stick around for season 4 when we can bring you even more kooky and spooky stuff in and around the great state of OK.
Again thanks for listening…
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This week, Jess tackles one of Oklahoma’ s many instances of the US Government going back on a treaty made with Native Tribes…
Chitto Harjo, also known as Crazy Snake, was born in 1846 into the Muscogee Creek Nation, which held onto important ceremonial roles even as other Native tribes faced significant changes due to U.S. policies. The Muscogee people, descendants of a rich culture that once thrived across the Southeastern United States, constructed impressive ceremonial complexes and formed a sophisticated political confederacy. However, in the early 19th century, U.S. Indian policy aimed to remove the Muscogee and other tribes from their ancestral lands. This led to a forced relocation, with many Muscogee settling in Indian Territory, where they established farms and a new governance structure. Harjo emerged as a prominent figure opposing land allotment policies that threatened tribal sovereignty and cultural identity, advocating for the restoration of traditional customs.
As tensions escalated in the late 19th century, Harjo led a faction known as the Snakes, which opposed the Dawes Commission's allotment system. Their resistance involved organizing a separate government and engaging in protests rooted in ancient Muscogee traditions. Despite initial successes, including establishing jurisdiction over a small area, Harjo's movement faced significant backlash from both tribal governments and U.S. authorities. The situation intensified with violent confrontations, ultimately leading to Harjo's arrest and imprisonment. Although he was never captured after his release, his life took a mysterious turn, with rumors of his death in various locations. Harjo's story exemplifies the broader resistance of the “Five Civilized Tribes” against U.S. encroachment and the struggle to maintain their identity and autonomy.
Join us this week as we examine Chitto Harjo and the Crazy Snake Uprising.
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When picturing the stomping grounds of serial killers Oklahoma doesn’t quite come to mind…right? Well, Tiff is going to trample right over that belief in this week’s episode!
The Oklahoma City Butcher is an unidentified serial killer responsible for the brutal murders of three young, unhoused Native American women—Cathy Lyn Shakelford, Arley Bell Killian, and Tina Marcia Sanders—between 1976 and 1986. All victims were subjected to brutal deaths at the hand of someone unknown. Cathy, 18, was found in an abandoned house, her mutilated body parts scattered, while Arley, 22, had her body parts discovered by children playing basketball. Tina, also 22, was found in a similar gruesome manner, indicating a pattern of violence against women from marginalized backgrounds. Despite investigations, including connections to notorious serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, the cases remain unsolved, highlighting the alarming rates of violence against Native American women, who are often overlooked in criminal reporting. The killer is believed to still be at large, prompting ongoing calls for information from the public.
This episode comes with listener discretion due the graphic deaths. Trigger warnings for various kinds of abuse as well.
If you have any information, please contact OSBI Cold Case Unit at cold.case@osbi.ok.gov or OKC Crime Stoppers at 405*235*7300…or you can visit their office or mail them a tip at 700 Colcord Dr, OKC, OK 73102 or contact Oklahoma City Police Department at 405-297-1180
Sources:
The Daily Oklahoman: April 17, 1986; November 30, 1993
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