Court Of Criminal Appeals Reverses Man’s Conviction, Sentence In 2015 Deadly Hit-And-Run, Orders Rogers Co. To Dismiss Case

A man convicted of second degree murder after a hit-and run-crash that killed a teenage girl in Rogers County in 2015, will have his case dismissed due to tribal jurisdiction. 

Dakota Shriver and his brother Gage were both sentenced to 25 years in the death of Noelle New and seriously injuring Maranda Talley.

Talley spent weeks in the hospital after being hit and left for dead in a field. But, she says that pain doesn’t even come close to the pain of losing her best friend; now, she may have to relive that pain all over again.

 “It’s not fair. It’s a slap in the face. I feel like I’m getting my freedom taken away. I’m getting my justice ripped away from me all over again,” said Talley. 

Talley drives by the field where the accident happened, and the cross to honor Noelle, every single day.

Talley and her best friend Noelle were walking along a a road near Verdigris, taking selfies, and talking when they here hit by a truck. 

A jury found Dakota and Gage Shriver were drunk that night, got into a fight inside the truck, then hit the girls and left the scene.

 “At first when they got put in prison, there was a sense of relief. I was able to sleep at night,” said Talley.

Talley says she feels what justice she got, is now gone. The case is now expected to be moved to tribal court.

 “Noelle had her whole life ahead of her. We worked so hard to get justice for her. Now to see her killer facing a maximum of three years, it’s a slap in the face. It’s a joke,” said Rogers County District Attorney Matt Ballard, who prosecuted the original case. 

Ballard says he fully supports tribal sovereignty ,but says he does not support letting convicted criminals walk free or ripping justice away from victims. 

“It’s heartbreaking for the victims family. It should be a wake up call for everyone that this is going on. That victims are being released victimized as a result of it,” said Ballard. 

Noelle’s mother said she was a proud member of the Cherokee Nation.

She says, Noelle’s memory lives on and she would feel honored knowing her tribe continued to seek justice on her behalf.

As for Talley, her guardian angel is what keeps her fighting.

 “I know I’m not fighting this alone. I’m doing it for her. To some people this cross is just a cross on the side of the street. To me it’s where my best friend is still at,” said Talley. 

The Cherokee Nation told News On 6 they have refiled charges against Dakota.

The maximum sentence for his charge is three years in prison.

If they stack the charges to run, the maximum is 9 years. 

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Brothers Sentenced To 25 Years For Rogers County Fatal Hit-And-Run

Victim Of Shriver Brothers' Hit And Run Speaks Out

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