Family Talks To News 9 About Missing Seminole Woman

Ed Murray, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Veronica Carlson's sisters, Pamela McCleary and Winema Hughes of Blackwell, told News 9 in an exclusive interview that they were notified by Seminole County authorities Tuesday afternoon that a body had been found in the area of their sister's last known whereabouts.

10/25/2011 Related Story: Body Found In Shallow Grave Near Seminole, Two Arrested

Both said they will remain hopeful until that body is identified, but have known since the start something was very wrong.

"She would always call if she needed something. No matter what," said McCleary. "And it was strange and baffling that she had not contacted someone. She loves to talk to people. She likes to have friends. But not just any friend, they're close friends. And she was very trusting."

"From the get go, with the people who were involved, it hasn't been painted pretty," McCleary said.

Those people McCleary is talking about are the two now in custody, Veronica Carlson's ex-boyfriend, Roger Gober and his current girlfriend, Marilee Smotherman.

"Veronica was assaulted by the girlfriend." said Winema Hughes. "She admitted to it."

And neither was surprised about Gober's arrest.

"No. No. He has a long history." said Hughes. "A long rap sheet. What do you call it, record."

They said they talked to Veronica about Gober's criminal past, but Hughes said she couldn't walk away from the on again, off again relationship.

"She wouldn't really listen. She knew his past. But she says that she loved him. You know, you can't help who you love. I do believe she was afraid of him. She's never come right out and said that. But her actions showed it," Hughes said.

"That is the whole reason she went to Seminole to begin with," said McCleary. "She'd been living in Seminole approximately three years. And she went down there because that's where his family is."

Carlson's children remained behind in Blackwell. She has three, ages 7 to 13.

"Are they aware of all the circumstances going on with their mom?" "To a degree," said McCleary. "We protect them."