Father Of Murdered Woman Testifies At Jenks 14-Year-Old's Preliminary Hearing

The father of a woman found murdered in his home in December 2012 took the stand Wednesday in the preliminary hearing for the teenager charged with the crime.

Wednesday, March 13th 2013, 1:07 pm

By: Richard Clark


The father of a woman found murdered in his home in December 2012 took the stand Wednesday in the preliminary hearing for the teenager charged with the crime.

A judge is considering whether there's enough evidence against Joshua Mooney, 14, for him to stand trial in the murder of 47-year-old Mary Escue.

William "Dick" Robinson testified Wednesday, March 13, 2013 that he discovered his daughter's body on the night of December 17, 2012.

Police say Mooney had broken into the Robinsons' house to burglarize it and was surprised by Escue when she arrived at the home. They say he admitted to holding her at gunpoint and then shooting her.

12/19/2012: Related Story: 14-Year-Old Confesses To Shooting Jenks Woman In Head, Report Says

Mary and her daughter were going out to dinner, then to Rhema to look at the Christmas lights. Her parents were going to join them after having dinner elsewhere. They had no way to know their plans would change so drastically.

Mary Escue's father testified about coming home and finding their house a mess on December 17. Knives were on a shelf in the entryway, guns were scattered about, couch and chair cushions had been shot, food was out, there were clothes everywhere, and, worst of all, his daughter was sitting in the family's home office, dead from a gunshot wound to the head.

Mary's mother testified about the things that were missing from the house, including a bag of change and a camera bag, which were later found in a yard in Sapulpa.

One witness, Cody Brummett, testified he saw Josh Mooney at a convenience store the next day in Sapulpa.

He said Mooney told him he had his grandmother's car, so the two got into it. Brummett said he saw a rifle wrapped in a quilt in the backseat and asked Mooney about it. Brummett said the teenager said it also belonged to his grandmother and that he didn't want it, that Brummett could throw it away.

Brummett testified that he took the gun home and put it into his closet.

He says they cashed a bag of change in and were on their way to buy marijuana when officers pulled them over, pointed guns at them and ordered them out of the car. The car turned out to belong to the murder victim, Mary Escue, not Mooney's grandmother.

Brummett testified he told officers everything, because he was scared, having only been out of jail for six days.

A Sheriff's deputy testified about interviewing Josh Mooney twice, the day of the arrest and again later in January, after Mooney's mother called and said her son had more information to share.

After the hearing, two women who refused to identify themselves made every effort to block our camera from getting a shot of Mooney as he was led from the courtroom.

The judge is putting off his ruling for now for a couple of reasons. He has to rule on some motions. Defense attorneys are concerned about Tulsa County deputies collecting evidence and making arrests in Creek County, which is out of their jurisdiction.

Plus, the judge has ordered the Office of Juvenile Affairs to put together a report on Mooney, as well as a psychological evaluation. Mooney's juvenile records, which were released after he was charged, show he has a history of mental health problems.

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