Press Release
Bristow Man Charged with the Murder of His Daughter
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Oklahoma
Adam Raymond Mason, 29, of Bristow, was charged today by criminal complaint with first degree murder in Indian Country following the death of his daughter, announced U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“The United States filed charges today alleging that a father punched, drowned, burned, and murdered his five-year-old daughter in Indian Country. This is heartbreaking. The alleged victim was set to start kindergarten next week,” said U.S. Attorney Trent Shores. “Now, it is time for our criminal justice system to go to work. The FBI, ATF, Creek County Sheriff’s Office, and Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police will continue their joint investigation. By rule, the United States Attorney’s Office will present this matter to a federal Grand Jury for their consideration as to whether probable cause exists to return an indictment. If so, then Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Roberts and I will prosecute the case to the fullest extent of the law and seek to prove to a jury the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In the meantime, my team of victim specialists will work closely with the surviving family to ensure they are connected with appropriate resources as this case proceeds in federal court.”
According to court documents filed by an FBI agent, Mason, allegedly murdered his daughter on or about Aug. 25 and Aug. 26, 2020. The victim’s mother last spoke to her daughter the evening of Aug. 25 and became concerned about her daughter’s welfare when Mason allegedly refused to let her speak with her child on Aug. 26. Creek County deputies responded to 38187 West 311th St. South to check on the welfare of the girl and found the burned body of a child. Deputies took Mason into custody after they located him one mile west of his residence in Bristow.
A Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lightehorse investigator and the FBI agent interviewed Mason at the Creek County Sheriff’s Office where the defendant allegedly told the two that he believed his daughter was controlled by witchcraft. According to the affidavit, Mason then told investigators that he punched the victim, drowned her, then took her to a creek bed where he set her body on fire. Mason and his daughter are members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Mason was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service and is expected to make an initial appearance today at 2 pm in U.S. District Court.
The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police, and the Creek County Sheriff’s Office are conducting the investigation. U.S. Attorney Trent Shores and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Roberts are prosecuting the case.
Contact
Public Affairs
918-382-2755
Updated August 28, 2020
Topics
Project Safe Childhood
Indian Country Law and Justice
Violent Crime
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