(Cushing, Okla.) Sunday morning, Cushing police and the OSBI received positive identification of the victim from Friday’s homicide. The victim has been identified as Cushing resident Ava M. King, 45 years old. The Office of the State Medical Examiner has ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma.
Friday evening (12/2/11), Cushing police and OSBI agents arrested Cushing resident Benjamin Joel Andre Littlesun, 22, near the Wilshire Inn on an outstanding Creek County warrant. He was later booked on an additional complaint of first-degree murder. Littlesun is behind bars at the Payne County Jail.
“First, on behalf of the City of Cushing, I want to extend my condolences to the King family,” Chief Terry Brannon said. “I have spoken with family members who are naturally taking the notice of their loved one’s death very hard. Ava was a mother, grandmother, and daughter. Losing someone in such a violent manner is just tragic,” Brannon said.
At about 7 a.m. Friday, a person working in the area of 100 W. Broadway discovered an injured woman suffering from significant trauma to her body. The woman was transported to a hospital in Cushing where she died a few hours later.
“I want to thank the men and women of the Cushing Police Department and the OSBI team sent to assist with this investigation for all their hard work. Together, we served as a voice for Ava so her killer could be brought to justice,” Brannon said.
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