A Dark Chapter in Oklahoma City’s History: The 1992 NE 50th Street Murders

On May 16, 1992, a quiet neighborhood near NE 50th Street and Spencer Road, on the far northeastern edge of Oklahoma City, became the scene of one of the city’s most shocking and brutal crimes. Inside a modest house at 11315 NE 50th Street, police discovered the bodies of five women, all bound, gagged, and stabbed to death.

The victims — Sandra Thompson (35), Phyllis Adams (47), LaShawn Evans (30), Carolyn Watson (37), and Fransill Roberts (34) — were found in what authorities described as a drug house known in the area. Evidence later revealed that four of the women had also suffered sexual assault, and one was pregnant at the time of her murder.

The brutality of the crime stunned both investigators and the community, marking the city’s worst multiple homicide in over a decade. Early leads suggested that the victims may have had connections to local drug activity, and rumors circulated that some may have acted as police informants — a detail that added complexity and danger to the investigation.

It wasn’t until 1997, thanks to advancements in forensic DNA analysis, that authorities finally linked a bloody handprint left at the scene to Danny Keith Hooks. He was later convicted and sentenced to death for the murders, though his sentence was eventually commuted to life without parole.

Today, this tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of crime and drug violence. It also stands as a testament to the perseverance of law enforcement and forensic experts who continued to pursue justice long after the trail had gone cold.

The Murder House