Lawton Duo Guilty of Murder in Wildlife Refuge Slaying

A gruesome murder in Oklahoma’s Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge has landed two Lawton residents in federal prison, after they pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and accessory to murder respectively.

Tevin Terrell Semien, 29, of Lawton, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint against Semien, on May 17, 2023, Karon “Dinkers” Conneywerdy Smith, 68, was found dead in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Investigators searched Smith’s home, which was within Indian Country, and observed blood consistent with a violent struggle. Smith’s vehicle was missing as well.

On May 21, 2023, Texas law enforcement observed Smith’s vehicle driving south of Dallas, Texas. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the vehicle fled at a high speed and eventually crashed into a lake. The two occupants of the vehicle, later identified as Semien and Logsdon, attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended.

Yesterday, Semien pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. As part of his plea, Semien admitted to deliberately and intentionally killing Smith.

On January 10, 2024, Logsdon pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact to murder and admitted to helping Semien in his attempt to avoid arrest and prosecution.

At sentencing, Semien faces up to life in federal prison and Logsdon faces up to 15 years in federal prison. This case is in federal court because Smith and Logsdon are enrolled members of the Comanche Nation and the murder occurred within Indian Country.

This case is a result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City, Dallas, and New Orleans field offices; the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Comanche Nation Police Department; the Comanche County Sheriff’s Office; the Lawton Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Rice, Texas Police Department; and the Navarro County, Texas Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark R. Stoneman is prosecuting this case.

The case furthers the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons efforts to address violence against Native American individuals. More information about this initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip.

Reference is made to public filings for more information.