A tragic development has unfolded in southwest Oklahoma City, as a house fire that took the life of a local woman is now canonized as a homicide investigation. Officials declared the incident, which occurred last week on SW 76th Street, a murder after discovering the body of 45-year-old Kellie Slaughter among the charred remains of her home.
It was reported by NewsOn6 that prior to the deadly fire, Oklahoma City Police had responded to the home several times for domestic-related calls, including one just two days before the incident. Residents in the area remarked on the uncharacteristic disturbance. "This neighborhood is normally pretty quiet," a local, Kara Purbis, told NewsOn6, expressing that the event was a shocking violation of their community's peace.
According to court documents obtained by the same source, Slaughter had taken legal steps to protect herself, filing for divorce and securing an emergency protective order against her husband only days before her death. The intensity of their domestic strife was underscored by the husband's subsequent filing of a protective order against her as well.
In the wake of this tragedy, Kellie Slaughter's family is grappling with a profound loss. Her niece, Jerika Hendrickson, laid bare the family's heartache in an interview, stating, "It's been, I believe, five days, but it definitely feels like a lifetime." KOCO recorded Hendrickson's tribute to her remembered aunt as "everybody’s everything," expressing the deep void Slaughter's death has left among her loved ones.
While no arrests have been made, the Oklahoma City Police encourage anyone with information to come forward. The Oklahoma City Fire Department is also actively investigating the precise cause of the fire. Should you have any leads, authorities prompt contacting the Oklahoma City homicide tip line at 405-297-1200. For continuing coverage on this ongoing investigation, stay informed with the latest updates from KFOR News.
