Investigation Into The Death Of Elijah Woolley

Editor’s Note: Portions of this story are quite graphic in nature. Reader discretion is advised.

News On 6 is looking into the investigation into the 2018 death of 14-month-old Elijah Woolley in Wagoner County. Those with inside knowledge of the case say people are being bamboozled by a propaganda campaign. They say the fact remains, the autopsy found little Elijah was sexually assaulted and suffocated and was dead 12 hours before 911 was called.

Elijah’s grandparents Bill and Lisa Woolley, who had legal guardianship at the time, were initially arrested and charged with sexual abuse, enabling sexual abuse and Elijah’s death, but those charges were later dismissed in 2021.

At the time, they said they found Elijah dead in his crib 12 hours after they put him to bed in March of 2018. They told investigators Elijah was drooling and had a slight fever when they put him to bed, then found him dead when they went to check on him the next morning around 10 a.m.

Elijah's five-year-old brother was removed from the home at the time, and during a sexual assault exam, court records show, he told the nurse, “Papa put his privates in Elijah’s butt right here.” The report says when he said “right here,” he pointed to his own anal area. He told the nurse, “it happens every day,” “in the living room on the couch,” and “he be crying and crying when it happens, then he gets a spanking.” The brother also told the nurse, “Grandma sees him do it, she don't say nothing. She just watches TV,” and he said Papa once told him not to tell anyone.             

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death was homicide, and the manner was suffocation. They also noted several injuries consistent with sexual assault, saying “multiple penetrating blunt impact injuries to the anus.” Bill and Lisa Woolley and their attorney requested a second opinion, and both sides agreed for a Texas Medical Examiner to review the case; he came to the exact same conclusions and noted additional injuries to Elijah.

The Woolleys say Elijah had constipation issues, and that accounted for the injuries to his rectal area, but the ME's report said those injuries were created from the outside-in.

The Woolleys and their advocates say Elijah died from SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The CDC says SIDS is a medical term used when an infant's death is unexplained. The medical examiner's report says injuries to Elijah's neck and evidence of his teeth cutting into his lips are consistent with physical force associated with suffocation.

The Woolleys hired an ME from Michigan who disagreed with Elijah's cause of death, but in 2022, records show that ME was removed from his job after an investigation showed dozens of mistakes in his office.

A judge initially ordered the Woolleys to stand trial, but eventually, the charges were dismissed in 2021.

Wagoner County District Attorney Jack Thorp says the prosecutor at the time thought it would be problematic at trial since a child abuse expert, hired by the Woolley's attorney, said there was no abuse. Thorp says the facts of the case are inconsistent with the narrative being presented to the public. He says the law does not allow him to comment because the case remains under investigation, and since there's no statute of limitations on homicide, charges could be refiled. (full statement below)

Elijah's five-year-old brother is now 12 and has been living with a relative for the past seven years, and the Woolleys argue they should get him back. DHS says child welfare cases are confidential.

The Wagoner County Sheriff's Office says it cannot comment on this case since the Woolleys have sued them.

Full statement from Wagoner County District Attorney Jack Thorp:

“While I am aware of the newest Woolley allegations, their newest claims occurred in Tulsa County and I am not intimately aware of the specifics of that investigation. I would expect that should anything of note be discovered, their findings would be submitted to the Tulsa County District Attorney. I have had some brief communications regarding the past and ongoing investigation related to the death of their grandchild (which was ruled a homicide by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner), and other allegations involving the sexual abuse of another minor child. 

I have great faith in the Broken Arrow Police Department, and their law enforcement officers to conduct a quality investigation into any allegation. The Broken Arrow Police Department is generally regarded as one of the finest law enforcement organizations in the State of Oklahoma and I am well aware of the training and expertise their officers receive. 

As it relates to the alleged homicide and allegations of other criminal acts related to their grandchildren, that matter is and remains “under investigation.” While I am restricted as to what I can comment to regarding a matter which is under investigation, I would like to clear a few matters up. It is possible there has been a great misunderstanding about the case. The Woolleys were not found to be innocent in a court of law. They were and continue to be “presumed innocent.” That is a presumption that they continue to enjoy, and will remain until and when the case against them is proven by proof beyond a reasonable doubt. As of today, the investigation related to Wagoner County is active and continuing. Should some change occur regarding this matter, the only statements that our office will offer will be in a court of law. 

Some may wonder why there is so much one-sided information regarding this matter. As a prosecutor, I cannot, in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct (3.8 f), speak publicly about a matter “under investigation,” or speculate publicly. I will not address documentaries, pod casts, or Facebook posts regarding this matter. However, I certainly would like to. As you might guess, I do have quite a bit of knowledge about this matter, and it is inconsistent with the narrative that has been presented to the public.  I would also disagree with the recitation of facts specifically outlined in their latest press release regarding the Wagoner County investigation. I can definitively state that this matter is under investigation. 

I would like to address one specific aspect of the press release. It mentions a Wagoner County Judge who testified at an interim study regarding the Woolleys innocence and the initial investigation into the minor child’s death. This former Judge is also subject to the Rules of Professional Conduct, and as well as the Code of Judicial Conduct. He recused from this matter, and was not an assigned Judge for any substantive aspect of this case. He is now retired from the Bench. 

I cannot acknowledge or discuss any potential juvenile case or matter. The dissemination of juvenile records, or statements related to juvenile proceedings are confidential under the law. See 10A O.S. 1-6-107 (D).

Furthermore, it is a violation of Federal Law to dispense to an unrelated person confidential school records, without lawful authority (FERPA) See 20 U.S.C. 1232g.”

Related: Wagoner County Couple Making Push To Get Grandchild Back From DHS Custody