Trial Begins For One Defendant In Triple Murder

Monday, December 3rd 2007, 10:09 am

By: News On 6

More than two years after a shocking triple murder in Owasso, one of the suspects goes to trial. Jury selection began on Monday for the first-degree murder trial of 31-year-old Clarence Goode, junior. The News On 6â€™s Steve Berg reports he's accused of fatally shooting Mitch Thompson, his wife Tara Burchett-Thompson, and her 10-year-old daughter, Kayla Burchett.

Police cars lined up outside the Owasso home on the morning of August 26th, 2005. Inside were the bodies of a man and woman, and most disturbingly, a 10-year-old girl, Kayla Burchett. She was a victim of fate.

Kayla lived with her grandmother in Collinsville but had asked to spend the night at her mother's house. Sometime during the night, prosecutors say three men came into the house. Clarence Goode, Kenneth Johnson, and Ronald Thompson, the cousin of the male victim Mitch Thompson have been charged in the case. Prosecutors say they shot and murdered the couple and Kayla.

Tragically, it was Kayla's grandmother who found the bodies in the morning, after she realized the girl had forgotten her cheerleading outfit.

Kenneth Johnson and Ronald Thompson also face 1st degree murder charges in connection with the case. The motive for the killings is still unclear and testimony about what happened that night has varied from witness to witness.

Kenneth Johnson is due to stand trial on February 29th. Ronald Thompson's trial date is pending.

Watch the video: First Trial Begins In Triple Murder

Related stories:

8/26/2005 Three People Found Dead Inside An Owasso Home

8/29/2005 Investigation Continues Into Owasso's Triple Murder

9/2/2005 Owasso Police Looking For A Purse Connected To Last Month's Triple Homicide

9/7/2005 Three Charged With Murder In The Shooting Deaths Of Three Owasso Residents