Conversation: Anadarko church slaying

A Report from CNN:
(CNN) -- Investigators plan to examine a knife found near an Oklahoma church where a 61-year-old pastor was killed, they said Friday.
The church in Anadarko is about 50 miles southwest of Daniels' home in Oklahoma City.
Police found the nude body of Carol Daniels, her arms outstretched, lying behind the altar of Christ Holy Sanctified Church in Anadarko, Oklahoma, about 50 miles from Oklahoma City, a source close to the investigation said.
She died of "multiple sharp-force injuries," according to a preliminary autopsy report that detailed wounds to her neck, back, chest and hand.
Now the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation has submitted a knife for forensic analysis, said Steve Neuman, a spokesman for the bureau. He said Friday that he could not comment on the usefulness of the knife to investigators.
The knife -- 8 to 10 inches long -- was found near a car wash across from the church by a satellite truck operator for CNN affiliate KOCO-TV of Oklahoma City, the station reported. Neuman said investigators appreciate the operator and the station for "handling the situation the way they did."
Meanwhile, KOCO broadcast an interview with an Anadarko man, Robert Robertson, who said he saw someone leaving the church on the day Daniels died.
"At the time, I looked around the corner, he was coming out of the front door," Robertson said in an interview posted on the station's Web site. He said the man "had something like a ski mask on" and "was covered in blood."
Robertson told the station that he sleeps at the car wash and investigators have interviewed him.
Daniels was found dead August 23.
District attorney Bret Burns has described the crime scene as "horrific," the worst he's seen in 17 years as a prosecutor. Jessica Brown, a spokeswoman for Oklahoma's State Bureau of Investigation, has said that the body was "staged" after the killing, but she declined to elaborate.
Daniels' clothes were taken from the scene, and a dissolving agent had been sprayed around her body, the source close to the investigation told CNN.
Investigators have offered a $15,000 reward and brought in an FBI profiler.
Daniels' son, Alvin Daniels, has told CNN that she traveled many Sundays to Anadarko, "in case people came to worship" in the church.
He told HLN's "Nancy Grace" that his mother was "always joking with us and always taking care of us, even giving her last dollar even if she didn't have it."

CNN's Tracy Sabo contributed to this report.

It seems that police have taken Robert Richardson's statement "with a grain of salt":
Richardson, 63, said he went to the Anadarko Police Department later in the day Sunday to report what he had seen. He said he waited because he had been drinking and didn’t think police would believe him.
"They told me to go home and they’d have someone come talk to me,” Richardson said. "Later, some OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation) agents came to see me. But they just looked around my place (the garage) suspicious-like, and didn’t seem too interested in what I had to say.”
OSBI Inspector Steve Neuman neither confirmed nor denied agents visited Richardson.
"I hadn’t heard that name, but that doesn’t mean agents didn’t talk to him,” Neuman said. "Let’s put it this way, if he were someone important, I would have known about him.”

He may yet well turn out to be "someone important." If his statement is true that he saw the killer leaving the church, it appears he is by far the best lead investigators have to date...

It's interesting that the Police Radio Log of the day Ms. Daniels' was murdered mentions nothing about Richardson's report that he says he made to Anadarko Police that same day....that he "looked up and saw this man leaving the church all covered in blood.” [read the rest below]

Eye witness testimony sounds credible to me:
"Suddenly, I looked up and saw this man leaving the church all covered in blood,” said Richardson, who sometimes sleeps in the equipment room of the car wash and sometimes beds in a nearby garage. "I was shocked. He was a big guy ... black, bald head, and he was carrying a knife. He turned (north along Broadway Avenue), though, so I didn’t get a good look at his face. I think he was wearing some sort of overalls, but to be honest, I couldn’t really tell.”
The witness' comment "wearing some sort of overalls" could mean he saw the killer from a distance carrying Ms. Daniels' missing clothing.

God bless family and friends and investigators in this case...

There are 2 basic assumptions that investigators will follow up on in this case, 1)she knew her attacker on a personal basis 2)it was a local person she didn't have any personal relationship with. Jen (below) stated that " I read elsewhere the church was within a half mile walking distance from a drug-infected, transient area where homeless often sleep. Not sure how true it is. I have to wonder if it was some drug addict out of the head."
Investigators will go forward with this 2-pronged approach: interviewing some of those area transients mentioned, and her personal friends.
From these contacts hopefully a suspect will be identified. In my opinion, a person of interest should soon materialize in the minds of investigative authorities...one would think a person capable of this dastardly crime wouldn't be hard to identify; either by Ms. Daniels' friends or by the homeless/transient community.

I am a christian native american from a nearby community and several rumors are arising that it was an indian that did this wicked horrible thing. but it is finger pointing out of despare. we do need some one to blame. but allow our justice system under God's leadership to prevail, lets not point fingers because we are scared. lets pray that true justice under man and God be given to Rev. Daniels and until a person is proven beyond that shadow of doubt, only God knows.

Oklahoman, I hope you keep this conversation board available until the person responsible is behind bars. The vicious and sacreligious
nature of this crime is unique, and I am sure many would like to follow the investigation and perhaps even contribute with their comments. Thanks.

Sophisticated cleansing agents were used. This was not a random act. I hear Caddo county is trying to blame some local INDIANS. Wasn't that TIRED ACT tried with the Weleetka girls murder? The INDIANS they are accusing can barely afford their beer and BINGO money let alone sophisticated cleansing agents. Personally, I hope they do catch the one/ones that did this. I would hope for man's justice and God's justice. Just don't grasp at straws to blame some poor old Indian. Such actions by Caddo counties law enforcement officials make them look like imbiciles.

Antonio: I don't know, I'd put more stock in the dude that writes textbooks, testifies in courts, and is pretty much nationally known in the subject. Like his assessment or not, the guy's a professional criminologist (all it took to find out some of his work was a simple Google search). And for the investigation, it's an OSBI investigation at this point, not a Caddo County one, which is all well and good because, if you recall, Anadarko PD works an average of 3 murders a year.

My condolences to Rev Daniels' family, friends and community. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. I hope the authorities bring this to a speedy closure and may justice be swift and harsh for the person that did this to Rev Daniels. I live in a small community. I cherish my community and the people here. I can imagine how this has impacted all of you. Prayers are with you.

By choosing to feature this Turvey character's assessment, newsOK has chosen to attack Caddo County's contact with the FBI and, by extension, with its handling of the case so far. This brand of journalism hampers efforts to understand and to solve this case. As for Turvey--the comment about the cruciform position (note: NOT crucifix; get your wording right, newsOK) being one that is "highly common"--highly common of a nude body being found behind the altar IN A CHURCH? This person obviously fails at putting two and two together; his comment about the missing clothing not being indicative of trophy-taking are cut from the same cloth.

The person that committed this crime is sick, sick, sick! When the authorities were originally very tight-lipped about the details I had a feeling it was going to be bad, and I was unfortunately correct. My condolences to Rev. Daniels' family.

It’s highly common to find a nude body lying on the ground with their arms outstretched like a cross. In fact, it happens all the time,” he said.

Really? All the time?

The professionals' opinion now is that Carol Daniels knew her attacker. "The evidence from the autopsy reports and the information released so far show signs of a sexual slaying possibly carried out by someone Daniels knew and who knew her schedule, Turvey said.
OSBI has called in FBI behavioral science experts to help track down the killer, said Jessica Brown, OSBI spokeswoman.
Turvey said he believes agents should stick close to people Daniels knew, including any romantic relationships or possibly someone she was counseling.
The theory that the killer knew Daniels and was enraged is one shared by Manion, "In the case of a robbery ... he’s not going to hang around and keep slashing at her, stabbing her over and over, and take time to stage the body,” he said.
From a forensics standpoint, Turvey said, it seems likely the nudity and the attack on her breast indicate the crime was a sexual homicide.
Turvey said authorities should be careful not to assume the killer is a man, because the crime could have been committed by a female — specifically a jealous woman."
"For example, the burning of the hair,” Turvey said. "That’s something a female might do.”

If it was someone she knew, it shouldn't take long to solve this case.

This really saddens me, I grew up in Anadarko, in fact I was just out there at the beginning of this month. I remember driving by this little church. I work in public safety, have for over twelve years, but this still really gets you. I have kept the family and the whole town of Anadarko in my daily prayers.

this really makes me feel sad that a woman who has given of her life for the sake of religion had this done to her. how sad!!!!!!

It's ashame that no one on earth is safe from maniac's like this. They are everywhere,in our schools, in our restaurants, daycare centers, and our church's, no one is safe. How can a human take another humans life for no reason! I just don't get it.. May God be with this family.. Hopefully they will find this nut and put him to death.

I had my coffee at MacDonald's Monday morning and was shocked to read about this crime in our local paper (Penticton, BC). I had been to OKC
as a visitor in 1976-77 and had been to church there. I didn't know where Anadarko was but looked it up on a map online. That it is off the main highways suggests it could have been a local maniac.
On the other hand, if it was a pre-meditated slaying by someone who may have followed her from OKC, there are highways leading out of Anadarko in every direction. But I'm sure the authorities will give this case top priority for quite awhile. Truly an awful and puzzling crime. To her family and friends may God grant comfort and wisdom...
Bill K.

Wow...that is sad...If the law does not get to the perpetrator remember this "Do not touch my loved ones; do my prophet no harm" 1 Chronicles 16:22. God has the final say in this and to the family, I send my condolences in this time of loss. I know it hurts but LET GOD HAVE IT. Praying for you as a former Oklahoman(Lawton) living in Kansas City.

Violence against women is getting worse and a woman of God who is attacked on sacred ground makes it a double tragedy!!!

This is a horrible crime that has been committed and it is natural for others to want to know more information. My sympathy goes out to the family who have to deal with the news coverage and worse finding out what sick events occurred.

Jen - it is true that the church is within a short walking distance of the police station. Also, there are people that hang out around the corner from the church at different times of the day or night. I wouldn't call them transients because they actually live in the area and are not just passing through. This is neighborhood where somebody more than likely knows something. I just hope they speak up.

I also hope that the family receives closure soon.

Stretch - I think too many are almost obsessed with details & it gives attention to the nitwit who did this evil, disgusting act. I hope they never release all the details or even the gruesome ones because frankly, it's none of our business & had it been my mother, I wouldn't want the world to know the details. I wouldn't want to give the jerk who did this the attention. All people need to know is if they saw anything whatsoever, suspicious person(s), a vehicle, a transient who isn't usually around....anything, call the OSBI. How can releasing all the gruesome details help the case? It can't! I do believe it was an attack against a preacher because why did it happen in a church? Why not at a woman's home? Why was the body staged? As a psychology major, this is beyond a murder....this is very heinous. I read elsewhere the church was within a half mile walking distance from a drug-infected, transient area where homeless often sleep. Not sure how true it is. I have to wonder if it was some drug addict out of the head. Either way, shouldn't ever happen. My heart aches for her family, friends, & congregation. I can't imagine a wonderful woman, doing something she was obviously passionate about (driving so far to preach weekly with few members), enduring something like this. It's evil & I pray her killer is brought to justice.

My heart goes out to Carol Daniels and her family and church family. What a beautiful lady she was. I pray for all the law enforcement officers who are working this case, and for people in the Anadarko community, that whoever did this heinous crime will be captured as soon as possible. May Rev. Daniels rest in peace.

Ok, what's the deal, why no details whatsoever? How could that help the investigation, if anything I would think it would hurt it.