Skiatook Woman, Great Granddaughter Dead, Great Grandson In Jail

Osage County Sheriff&#39;s Office says a 16-year-old stabbing victim&#39;s death is connected to the murder of an elderly woman in Skiatook Monday night.<br />

Tuesday, January 28th 2014, 4:20 pm

By: News On 6


The great grandson of a Skiatook woman found stabbed to death in her home on Monday is in the Osage County jail.

Michael Devin Stanley, 19, was booked into jail on a first-degree murder complaint late Tuesday.

Late Monday, Esther Driskell was found dead in her Skiatook home. Tuesday morning, her great-granddaughter's body was discovered inside an abandoned van in rural Osage County. 

A family friend found Esther Driskell's body in her home at Oak and C Streets. The 71-year-old had been stabbed to death in the home she shared with her grandchildren.

1/27/2014 Related Story: Police Identify Woman Killed In Skiatook Stabbing

Police said there were no signs of forced entry into the house.

Driskell's family said their nightmare continued when her great granddaughter was also found dead and a relative was named a person of interest.

The Osage County Sheriff's Office got a call about a van abandoned off Lake Road near Skiatook Lake at about 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to Chief Deputy Charlie Cartwright. When deputies arrived, they found a 16-year-old girl dead from stab wounds.

Two crime scenes in two days, it's way too much for this family to bear.

Family friend, Brian Coonce, said, "It sucks cause you never think you'll find yourself in this situation."

Driskell was found dead in her Skiatook home Monday evening.

"She was a very special woman," Coonce said.

Less than 24 hours later, Osage SkyNews 6 was overhead as Osage County Sheriff's deputies searched an abandoned van near Skiatook Lake for another body. This time, they found 16-year-old Larisa Fraley, Driskell's great granddaughter.

"She dealt with some things that were rough in her life. Paths that hit her, she struggled with, but you know what, that girl was strong and dealt with them the only way she knew how to and how Esther raised her," said Coonce.

Neighbors said Driskell devoted her life to taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In fact, Fraley was living with Driskell at the time of the murders.

Driskell's neighbor Margaret Corley, said, "She was such a sweet lady. She never bothered nobody and she just took care of her kids and her grand kids. She made two trips, four trips down this street everyday, taking her kids to school and going to pick them up and bring them home.

Driskell's great grandson and Fraley's older brother, Devin Stanley was arrested in Tulsa Tuesday and taken to Osage County for questioning.

He wore a hazmat suit because investigators were trying to preserve as much evidence from his clothes as possible.

The family said they'll have to rely on faith to move on from these tragic, senseless deaths.

"There's nowhere else to go," Coonce said. "God's got a plan for everybody. He's got a plan for them and Esther's looking down on us right now and that plan only he knows. We don't even have a clue."

The van that Fraley was found in was taken to Pawhuska to be searched for more evidence.

The family has set up a donation fund to help with funeral expenses.  In lieu of flowers monetary donations can be made at RCB Bank in Skiatook. Account # 110708974.

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