A Marshall County jury has convicted Christopher Bridenthal, 37, of second-degree murder in the shooting death of 42-year-old Donald Cole, recommending a life sentence for the killing that happened near Kingston in the summer of 2025. Jurors also found Bridenthal guilty of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. Formal sentencing is scheduled for October 7.
According to KXII, the jury handed down its verdict this week, more than a year after Cole was shot and killed. The station reports the panel recommended life in prison on the murder charge and found Bridenthal guilty of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.
The case began on June 28, 2025, when deputies were called to investigate a shooting on Texoma Christian Camp Road near Kingston, where they found a man dead from a gunshot wound, according to KTEN. Cole, 42, was shot and killed that day near Kingston, the outlet reported in a separate account of the case.
OSBI Investigation Led to Arrest, Then a Murder Charge Months Later
The Marshall County Sheriff's Office requested help from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation on the day of the shooting, according to KOKH. Investigators identified Bridenthal, then 37, as a primary suspect in the homicide, and he was charged with possession of a firearm after a felony conviction the same day, June 28, 2025.
The more serious charge came later. Bridenthal was charged with second-degree murder on November 10, 2025 — more than four months after the initial arrest, per the same OSBI-sourced reporting. The Madill Record's account of the case confirms the added charge arrived on that date, months after the original investigation began.
What Happens Next
With the jury's guilty verdict now in, the case moves to formal sentencing. Bridenthal is set to be sentenced on October 7. The jury recommended life in prison on the murder count.
The exact sentencing terms have not yet been determined. Those details are expected to become clearer at next month's sentencing hearing.
