Judge Dismisses Case Against Man Who Pleaded Guilty To Manslaughter Due To McGirt Ruling

A Tulsa County judge dismissed the case against a man who had previously pleaded guilty to strangling his wife to death.

Attorneys for Brandon Smith argued that he could not be tried in state court because of the new Supreme Court ruling. Attorneys said Smith is Cherokee, and the crime happened on tribal land.

Police said Smith killed his wife, Cynthia Mayfield in March of last year and called 911 to turn himself in.

He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter, but his sentencing was delayed because of the pandemic. A judge granted the attorney’s request to dismiss the case today.

Smith is still in the Tulsa County jail on an FBI hold.