A judge in Oklahoma has decided that a father will stand trial for murdering his 22-year-old daughter, who he claims accidentally killed herself while playing with a gun.
Police were called to Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Lee McMullan’s home in Norman on June 29, 2017 after he called 911 to tell police his daughter had accidentally shot herself ‘in the face.’
But evidence presented by a detective in court on Monday showed that Kailee Jo Hooker couldn’t have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Oklahoman.
Special Judge Steve Stice then ruled there was enough evidence to send the first degree murder case against the 43-year-old father to trial.
A judge in Oklahoma has decided that Ronald Lee McMullan will stand trial for murdering his 22-year-old daughter, Kailee Jo Hooker, who he claims accidentally killed herself while playing with a gun. McMullan is pictured in court Monday
Evidence presented in court on Monday shows that Kailee couldn’t have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. McMullan, pictured, had claimed his daughter shot herself
Special Judge Steve Stice then ruled there was enough evidence to send the first degree murder case against the 43-year-old father to trial
When officers arrived at McMullen’s home in June they found he had wiped up blood in the kitchen, even though her body was lying in the entryway, according to an affidavit – and then he tried to bury himself, the Oklahoman reported.
This sparked an investigation into the father, which led to a detective concluding that the evidence at the scene didn’t match McMullen’s story.
During a preliminary hearing on Monday, Detective Brian Franks testified that gunshot residue proved Kailee was shot from about 18 inches away.
Franks said that would have been ‘outside her reach,’ according to the Oklahoman, meaning that someone else had to have pulled the trigger.
According to an affidavit for a search warrant filed on July 6, police arrived at the home on the 1700 block of Abe Martin Drive, to find McMullen’s wife, Karen Hooker McMullan, giving the young woman CPR.
Officers took over CPR duties on Kailee – whose surname was given as Hooker in official documents – until it was clear that she was dead.
Kailee’s body was in the home’s entryway, and a blood-splattered .357 revolver was found on a side table.
Her father was also covered in blood, and stared blankly when the police asked what happened, cops claim.
Detective Brian Franks testified that gunshot residue proved Kailee was shot from about 18 inches away. Franks said that would have been ‘outside her reach’. McMullan and Kailee are pictured with her mother, Karen Hooker McMullan
When police ventured further into the home they found that McMullen had been trying to mop up blood in the home’s kitchen, the affidavit said.
And when they tried to take pictures of the blood-drenched dad he attempted to wipe it off himself with a towel despite repeated demands that he stop, it alleged.
The towel was snatched away from McMullen, who then tried to use his hands until he was physically restrained, the report said.
After the photos were taken, McMullen’s behavior reached bizarre extremes, as the man allegedly went to the entryway of the home, which borders a grassy front lawn, and ‘lay down in the dirt,’
He then ‘began covering himself in dirt while rubbing the shoes he was wearing on the concrete entryway,’ the affidavit claimed.
He then dug a small hole, covering himself in soil, the report said. McMullen was arrested on Wednesday July 5 on first-degree murder charges in her death.
The affidavit said that Kailee had been living at home on and off prior to her death, but had a deeply unhappy relationship with her father, friends told police.
They told officers that in April McMullen had slapped her until her mother pulled a gun on him to make him stop.
And two of her friends told police that he had molested her when she was younger.
Kailee was working as an EMT in her hometown in Oklahoma when she was shot. McMullen had told 911 that she shot herself but was arrested for her murder
When police arrived at the home they found Kailee, pictured, in the front entryway, and the father trying to clean up blood in the kitchen. He was covered in blood
School and Department of Human Services records showed that an investigation took place but no charges were filed, the affidavit claimed.
Prior to his arrest, police had said they were treating the young woman’s death as ‘suspicious’. Police said they are still investigating but do not expect to arrest anyone else in connection with her death.
An obituary published in the Norman Transcript just two days before her father’s arrest said Kailee ‘cherished her family and always had time for them’.
‘Kailee had a zest for life and a bubbly personality, was quick witted, and had a quirky sense of humor,’ her obituary read.
‘Always the entertainer, she loved making people laugh and was famous for the elaborate costumes she would put together when the occasion arose.
‘Kailee was a good and loyal friend, and all who knew her were better for it.’
She was religious and grew up attending Goodrich Memorial United Methodist Church.
Kailee was working as an EMT and at a plasma donation clinic in Norman when she was killed.
She graduated from Norman High School in 2013 where she was a Varsity cheerleading captain, before attending Bible college in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
‘Kailee had a passion for helping people and loved animals,’ her obituary read.