Opposition Raised To Killer's Possible Release

Wednesday, February 21st 2007, 5:25 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The sister of a woman who was killed by a poisoned crossbow arrow asks the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board not to release the former police officer who was convicted in the killing.

Jimmie Dean Stohler was sentenced to life in prison in the 1982 killing of 30-year-old Michelle Powers.

Powers was shot in the chest with a poisoned crossbow bolt while she stood in the parking lot of her Tulsa apartment complex. She died six days later.

Powers' twin sister, Rochelle Ruth, said Tuesday she thinks Stohler should've received the death penalty.

Stohler was the last of three men to stand trial on murder charges in the case and the only one to be convicted.

He told prosecutors he recruited Jack Ensminger Junior to kill Powers for $400 and supplied Ensminger with the weapon. Ensminger denied the allegation and was acquitted.

Former Tulsa police officer Robert Doss also was acquitted.

Doss and Powers, who was his ex-girlfriend, were involved in a custody dispute involving their son.