Broken Bow Killer Sentenced to 14 Years for Second-Degree Murder

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – In a brutal case of violence, Devon Leroy Battiest, a 43-year-old Broken Bow resident, has been sentenced to 168 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the sentence, which brings an end to a lengthy investigation by the Broken Bow Police Department, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to investigators, on May 6, 2023, Battiest entered a Broken Bow residence armed with a firearm and shot and killed a guest at the residence. The crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Battiest pleaded guilty to the charge on January 17, 2024. The 168-month sentence, which is non-paroleable, will be served in a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility. Battiest will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to the facility.

The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Assistant United States Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.

The case against Battiest serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of violence in our communities. As the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work tirelessly to bring perpetrators to justice, our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the victim.

The sentence in this case is a result of the tireless efforts of the investigators, prosecutors, and law enforcement agencies involved. It is a testament to the commitment of these individuals to ensuring justice is served and that those responsible for heinous crimes are held accountable.