Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation   A. DeWade Langley   Director   Jessica Brown Public Information Director

 8/2/06                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Rogers County Murder Suspect Identified

The Rogers County Sheriff’s Department has requested OSBI assistance in an overnight murder.  Chris Puckett was shot and killed inside his home about midnight.  Puckett’s wife was also inside the home but was not injured in the shooting.

Investigators have identified David Jude Leaverton (dob 12/22/56) as the suspect in this killing.  Leaverton and Puckett’s wife had been dating while the wife and victim were separated.  Recently, Puckett’s wife broke off her relationship with Leaverton and reunited with her estranged husband.  Officials believe Leaverton kicked down the door to the Puckett’s home at 14654 E. 435 Road and opened fire with two guns.  Agents believe Leaverton left with the weapons.

Leaverton spent more than a decade behind bars for kidnapping, first-degree murder and aggravated assault and battery.  A photograph of Leaverton is available on the Oklahoma Department of Corrections website.  Once there, go to Offender Inquiry, then to Basic Search.  Type in Leaverton’s DOC# -- 526244, his first and last name.

Leaverton is armed and dangerous.

If you have any information as to Leaverton’s whereabouts, please call the OSBI hotline at 1-800-522-8017 or the Rogers County Sheriff’s Department.