'Normal Folks Like Us Can't Understand': Police Say 7 Killed In Murder-Suicide In Okmulgee County

Okmulgee County investigators said a convicted rapist shot and killed his wife and five teenagers before turning the gun on himself.

Jesse McFadden, 39, shot all the victims in the head, said Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice, who leads the District 25 Violent Crime Task Force, during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. The victims included the suspect's wife, 35-year-old Holly McFadden, her three children - Tiffany Guess, Michael Mayo and Rylee Allen - and Guess' friends, Ivy Webster and Brittany Brewer. Prentice believed the five teens to be between 13 and 17 years old.

Prentice said Jesse McFadden shot the six victims with a 9mm handgun that Holly had bought in January 2022. He then shot himself in the head, Prentice said. Their bodies were found near McFadden's home on a property on Holly Road near Henryetta.

"People that perpetrate crimes like this are evil and normal folks like us can't understand why they do that," said Prentice. "So I think that besides the emotional trauma that people suffer because of the realization of what happened to these young kids, trying to figure out why is a challenge they'll never get past."

The investigation began because Ivy Webster was reported missing to the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office and Brittany Brewer was reported missing to the Henryetta Police Department Monday morning.

"My understanding is the girls were friends with Tiffany, who lived at the residence, and were allowed to go and spend the night with her on Saturday and were supposed to come home on Sunday," said Prentice. "And when they didn't, they were reported missing."

Prentice said the Violent Crime Task Force obtained a search warrant, and with the help of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, found the seven bodies outside on the property.

Investigators discovered the bodies of Ivy Webster, Brittany Brewer and Rylee Allen about a quarter of a mile southeast of the McFadden home, said Prentice. The girls were each about 300 to 450 feet apart from one another. The bodies of Jesse and Holly McFadden, along with Tiffany Guess and Michael Mayo, were found together about a quarter of a mile southeast of where the other three girls were found, Prentice said.

Prentice said the motive was unclear and Jesse McFadden did not leave a note before the murder-suicide. Prentice also said he did not know if the suspect had planned the killings.

None of the victims were tied up and there were no obvious signs of a struggle, Prentice said.

Prentice said there was no evidence that anyone else was involved in the murder-suicide.

"I do not believe that the parents of Brittany or Ivy did anything wrong and they are devastated by the loss of their children," said Prentice. "That being said, I don't think you can be too careful with your kids. Know where they're going and who they're going to be with."

Prentice said investigators met with the victims' families prior to Wednesday's news conference. Investigators will continue to document evidence and create a report that will be submitted to the District Attorney's Office as a formality, since the suspect in the case is already dead.

Jesse McFadden was convicted of rape in 2003 in Pittsburg County and served just under 17 years in prison. He was scheduled for a jury trial on Monday in Muskogee County for allegedly using a contraband cell phone to send nude photos and have sexual conversations with a minor while he was behind bars.