Grand Jury Hears Testimony In N.W. Oklahoma City Mother's Murder

Adrianna Iwasinski, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A multicounty grand jury convened Tuesday, March 29, to hear evidence and testimony in the Julie Mitchell murder case.

Police are still investigating the northwest Oklahoma City mother's murder, and no one has been arrested so far.

Mitchell was found dead inside her northwest Oklahoma City home in November 2010. Police said her stepson found her. Her 1-year-old daughter was also in the home, but she was unharmed.

"It's very difficult to corroborate information, to confirm information if it can't be validated because we don't know what the source is, so it's just critical in this case that anyone with information come forward and be willing to do that to assist in this investigation," said Oklahoma City Police Capt. Patrick Stewart.

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office said Mitchell's autopsy revealed she died of blunt force trauma to the head. Friends and family are offering a $50,000 reward.

Mitchell was married to Teddy Mitchell, who was out of town at the time of the murder. He is expected to testify before the grand jury, along with his three adult sons.

Police confirmed they are familiar with Teddy Mitchell because of his dealings in the gambling world.

Back in November, several Oklahoma City television stations were alerted to letters that contained detailed information about the Mitchell case. The letters were placed in a ditch and behind a telephone pole. They were handed over to police.

In early March, two Oklahoma City television stations received another letter with information about the case. Those letters were also handed over to police.

Police confirmed several people have been questioned about Julie Mitchell's murder. Attorney Josh Welch confirmed to News 9 that his client, who is a close friend to the Mitchells, has been called to testify before the grand jury. But he said his client will invoke his Fifth Amendment right and refuse to testify.

News 9 legal Analyst Irven Box also confirmed he has a client that has also been called to testify, but that client will go before the grand jury when they meet again April 21.

Leading the grand jury will be Assistant Attorney General Charles Rogers, the new chief of the Multicounty Grand Jury Unit for the attorney general's office. The multicounty grand jury meets once a month and has jurisdiction to investigate criminal matters in all 77 Oklahoma counties.

Grand jurors typically meet to hear testimony two to three days each month. Testimony before a grand jury is closed to the public.

More:

• Police Investigate Woman's Body Found in Northwest OKC Home as Homicide
• Autopsy Reveals Mom Died Of Blunt Force Trauma To Head
• Anonymous Letter Reveals Alleged Details in Mother's Murder
• Medical Examiner Releases Julie Mitchell's Autopsy Report
• Anonymous Letters Sent To Media Outlets Regarding OKC Woman's Murder