Man Charged in Slayings, Arson in Alex;

2 Other Suspects Sought

By: Little-Beth Brinkman, Lawton Bureau

Richard Thornburg is led out of a Grady County courtroom Monday after being charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of three men found shot and burned in a charred farmhouse near Alex.

CHICKASHA--Grady County prosecutors on Monday accused a Bradley man of murder and arson, alleging he shot three people and left them to die in a burning house in Alex.

Monday afternoon, investigators were searching for two others--both unnamed--they think were involved in the killings.

Richard "Richie" Alford Thornburg, Jr., 31, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and one count each of first-degree arson and shooting with intent to kill.

He appeared before Special District Judge Richard Van Dyck to request a court-appointed attorney and was expected to return to court today with capital defense attorneys from the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Beal said it was "very likely" prosecutors would seek the death penalty.

The victims' bodies were burned so badly in the weekend fire that they were not identified until late Monday.  Those killed were: James Donald Poteet, 51, and Keith Allen Smith, 24, both of Alex; and Terry Lynn Shepard, 39, of Cement.

Donnie Scott, a fourth victim in the shooting, was recovering in a local hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest, county officials said.  He has been able to assist with the investigation.

Kym Koch, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said early in the day Scott was in guarded condition.  By late afternoon, hospital officials said his condition had not changed.

Sources said the killings may have been drug-related.

Sheriff Stan Florence said his officers had responded to several disturbance calls at Poteet's house previously.

Two people traveling along State Highway 19 early Saturday noticed the fire at Poteet's house and stopped to help.  They didn't see anybody and ran next door to call for help, Florence said.

Scott was discovered lying near the road about 100 yards from the burning house, and the passersby drove him to a convenience store, where paramedics met him.

Thornburg was arrested about 2 a.m. Sunday just outside an Alex bar.

Florence said investigators are speculating the fire was set to cover up evidence.

Source: The Daily Oklahoman, Tuesday, October 1, 1996

(Scanned and type-copied from original newspaper article; contributor wishes to remain anonymous)