El Reno Murders

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Oklahoma appeals court denies Durcho a separate jury trial over mental issue in El Reno murder case

News | Published: Wed, Mar 7, 2012

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has denied Joshua Steven Durcho a separate jury trial on whether he is mentally retarded. Durcho is accused of killing his girlfriend and her four children in El Reno.

Fellow inmate says El Reno slaying defendant admitted in jail to killings

News | Updated: Thu, Nov 24, 2011

Roy George Kuykendall, an inmate at Canadian County, OK, jail, says fellow inmate Joshua Steven Durcho, 28, admitted to killing his girlfriend and her four children and is faking a mental retardation claim to avoid the death penalty.

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El Reno mom, kids remembered thumbnail

El Reno mom, kids remembered

Jan 13A vigil was held Jan. 12, 2010 to remember Summer Rust...

El Reno slayings: Joshua Durcho dash-cam video thumbnail

El Reno slayings: Joshua Durcho dash-cam video

Apr 13View the dash-cam video of Joshua Durcho's car crash, as...

Photos of the children

Victims remembered



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El Reno slayings articles from NewsOK

El Reno murder trial is delayed again Updated: Fri, Jan 6, 2012 A judge Friday refused to allow murder defendant Joshua Steven Durcho a separate jury trial on whether he is mentally retarded. Read More
Judge rules jury can hear El Reno murder defendant's statements Updated: Mon, Oct 24, 2011 El Reno man accused of killing girlfriend and her four children in 2009. Read More
Oklahoma ex-convict, accused in five deaths, said he blacked out during fight with girlfriend Updated: Mon, Sep 26, 2011 Recording of statement played for judge who must determine if jurors can see it at next year's trial. Read More
District attorney to seek death penalty in El Reno murder trial Updated: Wed, Jun 1, 2011 The defendant is accused of strangling his girlfriend and her four children to death in 2009. Read More
Trial dates set for 2 high-profile murder cases in OKC area Updated: Wed, Oct 13, 2010 Trials in two high-publicity homicide cases have been scheduled for next year. The jury trial in Edmond's "Bicycle Bob" case is set for Jan. 24. The jury trial for an ex-convict accused in five deaths in El Reno is set for May 2. In the "Bicycle Bob" case, Connor Adam Mason, 20, of Edmond, is... Read More
Durcho case: Attorneys' exit may delay trial in El Reno killings Updated: Fri, Oct 8, 2010 The El Reno, OK, trial for Joshua Steven Durcho, accused of strangling his former girlfriend and her four children, is likely to be delayed after defense attorneys withdrew from the case. Read More
Oklahoma judge rejects request to move Joshua Durcho trial Updated: Wed, Jun 23, 2010 A Canadian County judge has denied a motion to move the trial of a man accused of killing his former girlfriend and her four children. Read More
El Reno murder defendant’s hearing rescheduled Updated: Tue, May 25, 2010 A Canadian County district judge rescheduled a hearing on murder defendant Joshua Durcho’s request to move his trial. The judge delayed the hearing to June 23 for technical reasons. Read More
El Reno multiple murder defendant Joshua Durcho's hearing rescheduled Updated: Mon, May 24, 2010 A Canadian County district judge today rescheduled a hearing on murder defendant Joshua Durcho's request to move his trial. The judge delayed the hearing to June 23 for technical reasons. Read More
Attorneys want Joshua Durcho trial moved from El Reno Updated: Fri, May 21, 2010 Defense attorneys say Joshua Steven Durcho cannot get a fair trial in Canadian County. Attorneys are asking a judge to move the murder trial for the ex-convict accused of strangling his girlfriend and her four children. Read More
Trial rescheduled for man in El Reno strangling case Updated: Tue, Mar 9, 2010 EL RENO — The murder trial for an ex-convict accused of strangling his girlfriend and her four children has been rescheduled for Sept. 13. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Joshua Steven Durcho, 27. He is accused of strangling his girlfriend, Summer Rust, 25; her daughters, Kirsten Rust, 7, Autumn... Read More
Trial rescheduled in El Reno strangling case Updated: Tue, Mar 9, 2010 EL RENO — A jury trial has been rescheduled for Sept. 13 for a man accused of strangling his girlfriend and her four children. The murder trial for Joshua Steven Durcho, 27, had been set to begin April 5. That date was canceled earlier. The new trial date was set today when District Judge Gary E. Miller met... Read More
El Reno mom, children remembered Updated: Tue, Mar 2, 2010 EL RENO — More than 100 people gathered Tuesday night to memorialize an El Reno mother and her four children slain one year ago. The prayer vigil, held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 382, honored the lives of Summer Rust, 25, her daughters Kirsten Rust, 7, Autumn Rust, 7, and Evynn Garas, 3, and son... Read More
Trial date for Joshua Durcho, man accused of strangling girlfriend and four children in El Reno, postponed Updated: Tue, Mar 2, 2010 EL RENO, Okla. (AP) — The trial date for a man accused of strangling his girlfriend and her four young children has been postponed. An order filed Monday by Associate District Judge Bob Hughey postponed the April 5 trial of Joshua Steven Durcho on five counts of first-degree murder. No new trial date was... Read More
State Briefs: Donors meet blood need Updated: Tue, Jan 12, 2010 OKLAHOMA CITY Donors meet blood need Oklahoma Blood Institute officials said Monday the critical need for blood has ended thanks to Oklahomans who donated blood over the past two weeks. The institute initially announced an urgent-need situation Dec. 28, and continued with less than a two-day supply of blood until... Read More
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View a slideshow of the funeral held for Summer Rust and her four children.

Related Documents

Special bill of particulars

Offense report

Affidavit

The 5 counts of murder

Timeline

Monday, Jan. 12


  • 8:30 a.m.: Joshua Steven Durcho, 25, makes a food delivery to Lucky Star Casino in Concho with his mother, Jaime J. Bryan, said Durcho's stepfather, Shelton Bryan.


  • 2:30 p.m.: Durcho visits Christine Nicole Nelson's Edmond residence and tells her that he "choked" Summer Rust until she died, according to Durcho's arrest affidavit filed by police.


  • 3-4:25 p.m.: According to the affidavit and El Reno police: Nelson calls Jaime Bryan in El Reno and relays Durcho's confession. Bryan can't reach Summer Rust by phone or by knocking on her apartment door. Bryan returns home, calls 911 to request a welfare check on Rust and calls Jared Buchanan, Durcho's first cousin. Summer Rust's body is found by Buchanan when he opens a window to her bedroom.


  • 4:25 p.m.: El Reno police find the bodies of Rust and her children, step outside the apartment and call for help.


  • 6:30 p.m.: According to the affidavit, Durcho visits first cousin Shelly Putnam in Oakwood. He tells her that he is in trouble and asks to trade vehicles with her. She declines.


  • 9:30 p.m.: Surveillance video shows Durcho driving Summer Rust's 1989 Thunderbird at a truck stop on Interstate 40 in Clinton.


    • Tuesday, Jan. 13


  • 1:30 a.m.: Jaime Bryan receives a text message from a phone in Durcho's possession, according to the affidavit. Officers trace the text message to Wichita Falls, Texas.


  • 6:46 a.m.: Durcho calls his mother and tells her that he loves her and he has to go, and she tells him to turn himself in, according to Shelton Bryan and the affidavit. The call is traced to Abilene, Texas, according to the affidavit.


  • 10:15 a.m.: The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation releases the victims' identities and names Durcho as a suspect.


  • 4:19 p.m.: An arrest affidavit and charges against Durcho are filed at the Canadian County Courthouse.


  • 8:25 p.m.: A car driving erratically eastbound on Texas Highway 36, four miles west of Hamilton, crashes into a guardrail and two trees. A trooper runs the license plate and determines the driver is wanted in Oklahoma. Durcho is taken to a local hospital and arrested, according to Texas law enforcement.


    • Wednesday, Jan. 14


  • 3 p.m.: Durcho waives extradition and awaits his transfer to the Canadian County jail.


  • 4:30 p.m.: Medical examiner's office completes the autopsy on fifth victim, ruling all were strangled with a ligature.


    • Thursday, Jan. 15


  • 2 a.m.: Durcho is booked into the Canadian County jail.


  • 10 a.m.: Durcho is arraigned in Canadian County. The judge enters an automatic not-guilty plea and sets a preliminary hearing for Feb. 25.


  • 8 p.m.: A candlelight vigil is held outside Summer Rust's former El Reno apartment.