Tulsa bank robbery suspects

New information about the suspects in a fatal Tulsa bank robbery. Tulsa Police say the robbery Monday afternoon at the MidFirst Bank at 71st and Yale might have been just the first step in a larger,

Tuesday, May 25th 2004, 10:20 am

By: News On 6

New information about the suspects in a fatal Tulsa bank robbery. Tulsa Police say the robbery Monday afternoon at the MidFirst Bank at 71st and Yale might have been just the first step in a larger, grander plan. One that might target those who took part in the 1993 siege of the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas.

News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says TulsaPolice say the robbers are father and son, Wade and Christopher Lay, 43 and 19 years old. Police say Christopher was the follower, his father, the leader.

Christopher worked at Charlie's Chicken. His fellow employees say he was a nice, smart kid. We're told he was home schooled and his father studied constitutional law for many years before moving to Washington.

Records show the older Lay also lived in Colorado. In fact, we learned he was convicted of two theft cases in Arapahoe County in 2002 and then escaped from prison in 2003. He was later arrested in Tulsa as a fugitive from justice.

Christopher and his father recently received an eviction notice at their apartment. Tulsa Police served a second search warrant at the suspects' apartment. Sources say they were looking for and found a computer. They're looking for evidence to support the rumors about Wade Lay's anti-government views and that the bank robbery was an effort to get money to buy guns to kill people named on a list.

Tulsa Police Sgt Mike Huff: "There is a sheet of paper or two sheets of paper that refer in detail to people associated with the Branch Davidians. So, it's back to that anti-government thing, but to call it a target list at this time is not correct."

The list was divided into enemies and allies and listed a number of federal agents. Sources say the men even watched a movie about the siege at Ruby Ridge as a way to get pumped up for the robbery.

Lori Fullbright talked to Wade Lay's ex-wife and Christopher Lay's fiancÃ©' Tuesday. They told the News on 6, the story goes much deeper than it seems, but they can't talk about it until later.

They also said they were too distraught over what's happened to go on camera this soon.