Two Relatives Charged in 1997 Murder of 81-Year-Old Woman Over $40,000 Inheritance

In a significant breakthrough, law enforcement authorities have charged two women in connection with the 1997 murder of 81-year-old Gerthie Carolina in Sasakwa, Oklahoma. The suspects, Carolina’s niece, Carolyn Foreman, now 81, and grandniece, Dakota Davis, 45, are accused of orchestrating the killing to hasten their access to a $40,000 inheritance.

On August 5, 1997, Carolina was discovered deceased in her residence, having suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. At the time, Foreman and Davis claimed they found Carolina’s body when they arrived to take her to a medical appointment. Despite an initial investigation, the case went cold due to a lack of substantial evidence.

The case remained unsolved until 2023 when investigators revisited the evidence. A pivotal development occurred when the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation matched blood found on a shoe at the crime scene to Carolina, linking the shoe to Davis. This discovery, coupled with Davis’s alleged admissions of guilt to multiple individuals over the years, prompted authorities to act.

Both Foreman and Davis have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities allege that their impatience to access Carolina’s $40,000 inheritance, which had been placed in Foreman’s name, motivated the crime. Shortly after Carolina’s death, the duo reportedly withdrew the inheritance funds from a trust.

This case underscores the persistence of law enforcement in pursuing justice, no matter how much time has elapsed. The arrests bring a renewed sense of hope that long-unsolved crimes can still be resolved, providing closure to victims’ families.