OSBI Arrests Two Wanted As Witnesses In Okmulgee Murder Investigation

LaShauna Sewell, News9.com

OKMULGEE COUNTY, Oklahoma -- Agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation have arrested two people accused in court papers of killing a man in his Okmulgee home on Halloween night.

Christina Stribel, 26, was arrested at a home in Tuttle on Tuesday, November 1.  OSBI agents say Dustin Martin was with her, but ran from the scene.  He was arrested around 11:30 a.m.  after an all-night search in Tuttle and Mustang.

11/2/2011 Related Story: OSBI Suspends Search In Tuttle, Mustang For Second Homicide Suspect

The two were arrested on material witness warrants out of Okmulgee County.  They're wanted for questioning in the death of Strubel's step-father, Timothy Parenti.

According to court documents, Parenti's wife Linda discovered his body on Monday, October 31.  Timothy Parenti had left the couple's Tulsa home on Friday, October 28, to stay in Okmulgee for a few days.  Mrs. Parenti says when she arrived at their Okmulgee home, it had fire and smoke damage.  Inside, she discovered the partially burned remains of her husband. 

The couple's tan, Buick Lesabre was also missing from the home.  It was later found burned in Washita County.

Mrs. Parenti called OSBI investigators and told them her daughter Christine Stribel, also known as Christine Smith, telephoned her on October 29.  Stribel said she and her boyfriend were looking for Mr. Parenti.  Mrs. Parenti said Stribel called her a few hours later and said, "We did it.  We killed him."

Mrs. Parenti claimed Stribel said they didn't mean to kill her husband.  She said Martin had accidentally shot him Mr. Parenti in the head with a gun that had a "hair trigger."  Stribel then told her mother Martin had poured gas on Mr. Parenti's body and set him on fire.

OSBI agents say the evidence at the crime scene is consistent with the details Mrs. Parenti provided.  Stribel and Martin were booked into custody on material witnesses in the investigation of first-degree murder.