Dakota Williston, Murder, Oklahoma 2015

WASHINGTON – In a shocking turn of events, a jury convicted Dakota Williston of the brutal murder of a two-year-old Payton Cockrell in Indian Country. The heinous crime occurred on July 23, 2013, leaving the community in a state of shock.

The trial, which took place in June 2015, saw the prosecution team, led by Assistant United States Attorneys Dean Burris and Linda Epperley, Victim/Witness Specialist Mary Jo Speaker and Legal Assistant Leslie Hood, work tirelessly to bring justice to Payton and her family. The dedication and hard work of the team paid off as Williston was found guilty.

Chief United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Oklahoma James H. Payne sentenced Williston to life in the Federal Bureau of Prisons at sentencing. This sentence serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the prosecution team and the justice system.

The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Mark Green, commended his staff, stating, “This case presented an extremely challenging set of facts. To achieve justice for Payton and her family took outstanding effort and teamwork for the prosecution team. We in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma are extremely proud of these deserving recipients.”

Four employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma were recognized by Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) Director Monty Wilkinson at the 32nd annual Director’s Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. The ceremony, held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building, honored the hard work and dedication of the legal and administrative personnel in the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and law enforcement partners.

The Eastern District of Oklahoma was one of 33 districts represented at the ceremony, which highlighted the breadth of the department’s responsibilities and the significant challenges faced. Deputy Attorney General Yates emphasized the importance of the work being done, stating, “The achievements being recognized today reflect the breadth of the department’s responsibilities, and some of our most significant challenges. From dismantling dangerous gangs, drug cartels and human trafficking operations to tackling political corruption, white collar crimes, and international terrorism, these awardees have taken on our toughest cases. And the citizens of our country are safer because of their work.”

In her remarks, Director Wilkinson added, “We honor the truly talented and dedicated legal and administrative personnel in the 94 U.S. Attorneys’ offices and our law enforcement partners who every day touch lives in our communities, protect the American people, and work to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice.”

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edok/pr/employees-united-states-attorneys-office-eastern-district-oklahoma-honored-department