Nonprofit Will Probe Unsolved Oklahoma City Murders
The group Oklahoma Cold Cases plans to launch an investigation next month into three decades-old homicides.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Crime — General
Beginning in October 2026, the nonprofit Oklahoma Cold Cases will investigate the unsolved murders of three women in Oklahoma City. Police linked the deaths of Cathy Shackleford, Arley Killian, and Marcia Tina Sanders in 1986.
Why it matters
The investigation aims to uncover new leads in a case that has remained cold for decades. Authorities previously connected the three victims because their remains were all discovered within a one-square-mile area.
The three victims were ages 18, 22, and 23 when their remains were found between 1976 and 1986. While Henry Lee Lucas confessed to the murder of Arley Killian, that confession was later disproven.
The players
Oklahoma Cold Cases
This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to investigating and bringing awareness to unsolved homicide cases.
Henry Lee Lucas
He was a convicted serial killer who falsely confessed to numerous crimes, including the murder of Arley Killian.
The details
The group plans to meet with witnesses and conduct a thorough examination of records to identify new evidence. The victims were discovered near Northeast 6th Street, Northeast 10th Street, and the intersection of Northeast First and Geary near North Lindsay Avenue.
Timeline
Cathy Shackleford’s remains were found in 1976.
Arley Killian’s remains were found in 1979.
Marcia Tina Sanders’ remains were found on March 6, 1986.
Police linked the three murder cases in 1986.
Oklahoma Cold Cases will begin its investigation in October 2026.
Legal Context
This effort follows the initial police categorization of these homicides as a singular set of crimes linked by their proximity. It reflects a growing trend of private organizations assisting law enforcement in re-evaluating cold cases using archived data.
Residents in the vicinity of the original crime scenes may be contacted by investigators as the group reviews decades-old documentation. The project aims to provide closure for the families involved and potentially resolve a long-standing public safety mystery.
The takeaway
Cold case investigations often rely on re-examining overlooked details from decades-old police files. The success of this initiative will depend on the ability of researchers to connect historical findings with contemporary forensic insights.
What happens next
The organization Oklahoma Cold Cases is scheduled to initiate its formal review of the records and new lead gathering in October 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local public safety and criminal justice updates in our Crime — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KOCO.
