Let us remember Kelsey Sue Tennant who was murdered on
March 20, 2017 and do not forget her on her birthday on May 6. Let us pray for the victim and their family.
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Kelsey
Sue Tennant
(May
6, 1997 to March 20, 2017)
[PHOTO
SOURCE: http://www.swtimes.com/obituaries/20170323/kelsey-tennant]
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THE
CASE:
A 19-year-old
Oklahoma woman was strangled to death by a suspected burglar that she found
inside her apartment when she returned home on her lunch break.
Greg
Epperson, who is a suspect in two other murders, allegedly broke into Kelsey
Tennant's apartment near 65th and Mingo in south Tulsa while she was away at
work at Metro Appliances & More on Monday.
The
19-year-old came home from work around 3pm to watch 'Friends' reruns when she
found Epperson inside her apartment, police said.
Epperson is
then accused of viciously attacking, beating and strangling her.
As she was
dying, he continued to go through her belongings inside the apartment, KFOR reported.
Tennant's boyfriend, Riley Allen, became worried
when he didn't hear from her as she didn't answer his calls.
Allen went to her apartment to check on her and was
also attacked by Epperson, police said.
Epperson allegedly tried to shoot Allen, and then
fled the scene.
Both Allen and Tennant were rushed to a nearby
hospital. Tennant was in critical condition with no brain activity and was
later pronounced dead hours later.
Allen was not seriously injured in the tragic
incident.
Authorities later arrested Epperson after finding
him in a neighboring apartment later that evening.
Tulsa Police Sergeant Dave Walker told the Tulsa World Daily the case is believed to be an
'an interrupted burglary.'
Police said
that Tennant fought hard against her attacker. Her family and friends are
devastated over her death.
Tennant, who
graduated from Broken Arrow high school, is being described by those who knew
her as a kind-hearted young woman who loved life to the fullest.
'She's got the
biggest smile and puppy dog brown eyes,' her sister Courtney told KOTV.
'She could
steal your heart. She had a joyous and contagious giggle.'
Epperson is
being held without bail on charges of first-degree murder, assault and battery
with intent to kill, first-degree burglary and assault and battery.
Authorities
say Epperson was arrested for the 2008 murder of Tulsa car dealer Ray
Johnson.
'Epperson, we
believe, shot and killed Mr. Johnson, put him in the trunk of a car then dumped
his body in a creek,' Walker said.
However,
Johnson's body has never been found and the District Attorney was forced to
drop the charges due to a lack of evidence.
Police also
suspect Epperson in the death of John Baker who was reported missing before his
body was discovered months later by Lake Keystone.
'The last
person to talk to Mr. Baker was Epperson and Epperson was living in a rental
house of Baker's,' Walker said.
Epperson has
never been arrested or charged in that case due to no physical evidence.
He has
previously been convicted of second-degree burglary, driving under suspension,
obstructing an officer and transporting an open container.
Epperson, who
is a father-of-two, was most recently arrested in December for failing to pay
court costs. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
[SOURCE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4358376/Oklahoma-woman-19-strangled-death-lunch-break.html]
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Kelsey
Sue Tennant
(May
6, 1997 to March 20, 2017)
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MEMORIES OF
KELSEY SUE TENNANT:
Sister
remembers life of Kelsey Tennant who died after neighbor attacked her in
apartment
5:41 PM, Mar 21, 2017
6:28 PM, Mar 21, 2017
BROKEN ARROW,
Okla. -- Family members are choosing to focus on how Kelsey Tennant lived her
life rather than the tragic way it ended.
Tennant, 19,
died Monday night after Tulsa police said Gregory Epperson broke into her apartment near 65th and
Mingo and strangled her.
Tennant's
older sister, Courtney Jefferson, said she had a sassy, stubborn side with the
most contagious smile and laugh.
"Everybody
who met her never had a negative thing to say about her," Jefferson
said. "She loved so many people, and was loved
by so many people."
Jefferson
also described her sister as adventurous and selfless. Tennant loved riding on
four-wheelers and go-karts, according to Jefferson. Her giving spirit also came
out when Tennant took care of her two-year-old nephew and when she worked to
help children during her many mission trips over the years.
"She
was a special person," Jefferson said. "Anybody
that had the opportunity to meet her was very blessed."
Recently
Tennant and her boyfriend, Riley, celebrated their two-year anniversary
together. They both performed with the Broken Arrow Pride during high school.
Jefferson said it was one of her sister's proudest accomplishment to make the
color guard.
"She was
so nervous when she tried out because she didn't want to not make it,"
Jefferson said. "When she made it, she was just ecstatic."
Tennant's
boyfriend is still recuperating after the suspect also attacked him when his
family said he sensed something was wrong and came home to check on Tennant.
"Their
relationship gave me hope that there are still some very special people out
there," Jefferson said. "I know that he loved her very much and did
anything for her."
The suspect
is due in court on March 28, and now Jefferson and her family are planning Tennant's
funeral. They said they'll rely on the overwhelming amount of support they're
getting right now to deal with the tough days ahead.
"It's
great because she's an amazing human being and never deserved this,"
Jefferson said through tears. "We are glad that she is now with Jesus and
with all the other angels that have gone on before her."
INTERNET
SOURCE: http://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/sister-remembers-life-of-kelsey-tennant-who-died-after-neighbor-attacked-her-in-apartment
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Kelsey
Sue Tennant
(May
6, 1997 to March 20, 2017)
[PHOTO
SOURCE: https://www.gofundme.com/justicehonor-for-kelsey-tennant]
|
OTHER LINKS:
Tulsa County DA files for death penalty
in Kelsey Tennant murder
http://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/tulsa-county-da-files-for-death-penalty-in-kelsey-tennant-murder
Tulsa County could hand down its first
death sentence in 8 years as state moves to make woman's slaying a capital case
Tulsa County Prosecutors Pursuing First
Death Penalty Case In 8 Years
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Greg
Epperson (right) is a suspect in the murder of Kelsey Tennant (left).
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