Family Honors Son’s Life As Police Release Sketch Of Suspect In Murder Case

On what would have been his 23rd birthday, a local family grieves the loss of their son who was murdered in October 2019.

On Wednesday, Tulsa Police released a composite sketch of one of the suspects.

Ben Montgomery’s mom said she doesn’t want to remember Ben as forever being 22, so they have continued to celebrate his birthday every year. Instead of remembering how he died, they want to honor the brave life he lived.

“We are going to try to honor his life as best we can and make the most of a very horrible situation,” Tom Montgomery, Ben’s father, said. “There are six people alive today because of my son and I will always be very proud of who my son was.”

Ben was murdered near 101st and Sheridan in October of last year and it’s one of the only unsolved homicides from 2019 in Tulsa. Tulsa Police just released a composite sketch of one of the suspects.

Michelle and Tom Montgomery said this is now the second birthday they won't get to spend with their son, Ben. Last year, two days before he was supposed to their house to celebrate, he was murdered.

“His birthday was on a Monday and I asked him on Sunday if he wanted to come over and he said he had plans, but wanted to do Saturday but two days before he was murdered,” said Ben’s Mom, Michelle Montgomery. "That was the first birthday that we hadn’t spent together.”

Michelle and Tom said they’re having Ben’s girlfriend over on his birthday for Ben’s favorite dinner, Yakisoba, German Chocolate Cake and Gold Medal Ribbon ice cream and to share memories of Ben.

"I’m sure we'll laugh, I’m sure we'll cry, I’m sure we will have many different varied emotions throughout the week but we are going to soldier on like we always have,” said Tom.

On October 10, 2019, two men initially tried to rob another man at Ben's apartment complex near 101st and Sheridan, but instead went inside Ben's apartment.

Tulsa Police Detectives said that's when Ben confronted the two men and threw himself in between his friends and the robbers.

"He went and he fought to try to save his friends and he did but he paid for it with his life," said Corporal Brandon Watkins. 

Now almost one year later, detectives are still interviewing witnesses and chasing down leads and they hope this new sketch will encourage someone to come forward.

"Some are sprints, some are marathons, this is an ultra-marathon,” said Corporal Brandon Watkins. 

"There are people in Tulsa and there are people in this country who know more than what they are saying and they need to step up to the plate,” said Tom.

Michelle and Tom said they frequently visit Ben's tree at Hunter Park. A friend dedicated the tree to the Montgomery Family in honor of Ben.

Hunter Park’s Biscuit Acres was one of Ben's favorite places to go with his dog, Oakley. As they watch Ben's tree grow, so do their hopes, they will finally get the answers they so desperately need.

"We have faith that they will find the people that did this and they'll be apprehended, prosecuted and sent away," said Tom.