A 19-year-old woman from Oklahoma, Heidi Dutton, has been sentenced to life in prison after admitting to the brutal murders of her grandparents, Larry and Deborah Dutton. The crime, which took place in December 2022, shocked the community and highlighted the disturbing relationship between Dutton and her boyfriend, Lucas Anthony Walker.
Dutton, who was just 17 at the time of the murders, will spend the rest of her life in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, desecration of a corpse, and conspiracy to commit murder.
The Crime and Investigation
Heidi Dutton and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Lucas Walker, killed Dutton’s grandparents just days before Christmas in 2022. According to authorities, the couple’s actions were premeditated and brutal. The victims, Larry Dutton, 73, and Deborah Dutton, 67, had not been heard from for several days, causing family and neighbors to grow concerned.
A welfare check was requested, and on January 20, 2023, deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the couple’s home in Dewey, Oklahoma, about 50 miles north of Tulsa.
During their investigation, officers discovered the bodies of the Duttons buried in a shallow grave in the backyard. The couple had attempted to clean up the crime scene, but blood stains were still visible on the bedroom floorboards. Both Heidi Dutton and Lucas Walker admitted to the murders in separate interviews with authorities. Dutton, in her confession, stated that it was her boyfriend who killed her grandparents at her request.
The Brutal Details of the Murders
Walker explained that on December 19, 2022, he entered the Dutton home while the victims were sleeping. Armed with a .22 caliber pistol, he waited in the bedroom until Deborah Dutton opened the door. When she did, he shot her in the face. Larry Dutton, hearing the noise, rushed to protect his wife.
Walker tried to shoot him, but the gun jammed. In response, Walker pulled out a knife and brutally stabbed Larry multiple times in the face, chest, and stomach. He also stabbed Deborah before the couple wrapped the bodies in sheets and carried them to the backyard. The bodies were buried in shallow graves, and Ring camera footage captured the couple moving the bodies.
The motive behind the killings was chillingly simple. Dutton confessed that she “wanted them dead.” According to reports, when asked about her reasons, she responded with a cold “We kill them.”
Sentencing and Legal Outcome
Heidi Dutton was sentenced to life in prison for her involvement in the murders. She must serve 85% of a 45-year sentence, which amounts to about 38 years, before she can be eligible for parole. Her boyfriend, Lucas Walker, received a 35-year federal sentence due to his status as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
Washington County District Attorney Will Drake stated that the sentence was in accordance with the law, considering Dutton’s age at the time of the crime. However, he emphasized that the crime was brutal and calculated, and the sentences would spare the victims’ family the trauma of a prolonged trial and appeals.
Background of the Victims
Larry and Deborah Dutton were retired military veterans. Larry Dutton served as a Master Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Air Force and was also the former manager of an airport in Kansas. Deborah Dutton was originally from Tennessee and had a distinguished career as a Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Air Force and as a chef. The couple had been well-respected in their community, and their tragic deaths have left their family and friends devastated.
The murders of Larry and Deborah Dutton by their granddaughter, Heidi Dutton, and her boyfriend, Lucas Walker, reflect a deeply disturbing case of betrayal and violence. Dutton’s cold admission that she “wanted them dead” highlights the chilling nature of the crime, and the brutal way the couple carried out the murders has shocked many.
As the case unfolds and both defendants face lengthy sentences, it serves as a reminder of the tragic consequences that can arise from deeply troubled relationships.
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