Pottawatomie County D.A. Seeks Death Penalty In Murder Case

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

SHAWNEE, Oklahoma -- A man accused of murder and rape in Pottawatomie County will face the death penalty, but at this point his sister -- a suspect in the same crime -- will not.

Glendon Gouker, 39, and Michele Gouker, 29, appeared in court Friday morning.  Deputies arrested the siblings Sept. 9 after they found the body of 19-year-old Ethan Walton stuffed into a 55-gallon drum near Prague.

Deputies found Walton's body after his nude girlfriend ran to a neighbor's house and asked for help.  She said she'd been sexually assaulted.

The couple had gone to the Goukers' home to sell a piece of property.

Glendon Gouker was charged Friday morning with nine felonies, including murder, kidnapping, rape and sodomy.  The D.A. will seek the death penalty.

"The crimes for which Mr. Gouker is accused are horrific and are deserving of consideration of the death penalty," said District Attorney Richard Smothermon.

Michele Gouker is charged with kidnapping and shooting with intent to kill. She is not charged with murder, but the D.A. said that could change.

"The investigation is ongoing," Smothermon said. "We're about a week into it at this point.  We are not precluded from filing similar charges on her, but at this point the charges are what the evidence shows us."

Both suspects have pleaded not guilty. The judge denied bail for Glendon Gouker and set Michele's bond at $1 million.

The D.A. did not reveal a motive for the murder.  He said all that information will come out later in court.

More:

• Pottawatomie County D.A. to Charge Siblings in Man's Murder
• Mother of Pottawatomie Murder Suspect Says Son Acted in Self-Defense
• Brother, Sister Arrested in Murder/Kidnapping Near Prague