For nearly three decades, the brutal murder of Gerthie Carolina, an 81-year-old widow, remained a chilling mystery. But thanks to a recent breakthrough by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), the case has been solved, and two of Carolina’s relatives have been arrested in connection with her violent death.
A grisly crime
On August 11, 1997, the lifeless body of Gerthie Carolina, affectionately known as “Granny” in her small town of Sasakwa, was discovered on the kitchen floor of her home. The elderly widow had been repeatedly stabbed and possibly attacked with an axe, her body surrounded by a pool of blood. At the time, investigators were left with few clues, and the case quickly grew cold.
The murder occurred just four months after Carolina finalized her will and trust, which set up a large inheritance, naming her niece, Carolyn Foreman, as the beneficiary. The timing of the crime raised suspicions, but for over 27 years, no arrests were made.
The case goes cold—until 2023
The investigation remained stagnant for years, until in 2023, agents with the OSBI decided to revisit the case. In reviewing old evidence, they made a crucial discovery: a bloodstain on the side of a shoe, collected from the crime scene in 1997. Forensic testing confirmed that the blood was, in fact, that of the victim.
With this key evidence, the OSBI was able to make a dramatic breakthrough, eventually identifying two suspects: Carolyn Foreman, 81, and Dakota Davis, 45. Both women are now facing charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Gerthie Carolina.
Motive revealed
Seminole County District Attorney Erik Johnson revealed the motive behind the crime, stating that the two women were driven by a desire for quick financial gain and inheritance. In the year leading up to her death, Carolina had purchased a $40,000 certificate of deposit (CD), which she later transferred into a living trust. Foreman was named as the beneficiary of the trust, and Carolina also named her niece as the heir in her will, leaving no assets to her own children.
The OSBI’s investigation uncovered that shortly after Carolina’s death, Foreman cashed out the $40,000 CD.
A chilling account of the murder
The day of the murder, both Foreman and Davis arrived at Carolina’s home under the pretense of taking her to the doctor. According to affidavits obtained by The Oklahoman, the two women claimed to have discovered the victim’s body around 3:15 p.m. However, an autopsy revealed that Carolina had died from multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma, which contradicted their initial statements.
Investigators later discovered that Davis had allegedly confessed to the murder over the years, giving conflicting accounts of how the crime was committed. In some reports, she claimed to have used a machete; in others, an axe.
Court documents describe the attack in chilling detail: “Foreman had a gun, but Dakota had an ax. When they arrived [at Carolina’s home], Dakota threw ammonia on Carolina’s face. Dakota then began hitting Carolina with the ax.” The documents also reveal that the motive for the attack was the inheritance, with Carolina’s estate set to be divided by Foreman.
A break in the case
The case remained unsolved for decades, but in 2024, a break came when a criminalist at the OSBI reexamined the evidence. The bloodstain found on Davis’ shoe, which had been collected from the crime scene in 1997, was tested and confirmed to be Carolina’s blood. This, along with additional interviews conducted with witnesses between 1997 and 2005, led to the issuance of arrest warrants for Foreman and Davis.
Foreman was arrested in Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Davis was taken into custody in Sacramento, California. The two women now face serious charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Past legal issues
It is not the first time that Foreman has been involved in legal troubles. In 1999, she was charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old. However,
that charge was dismissed later that year. Her son, Billy Earl Parker, who was also accused of the same murder, was convicted of first-degree murder in 2007 and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
A long-awaited justice
The arrests of Foreman and Davis bring a sense of closure to the long-unsolved case. Prosecutors expressed their satisfaction with the breakthrough, calling it a testament to the “relentless dedication” of investigators and the ongoing pursuit of justice, even after so many years.
“This case is a testament to the relentless dedication of these investigators and our unwavering pursuit of justice, even decades after a crime is committed,” said Seminole County District Attorney Erik Johnson. “We hope this brings some measure of peace to Gerthie Carolina’s family after all these years.”
As this case draws to a close, the community of Sasakwa can finally put to rest the haunting mystery of Gerthie Carolina’s tragic death, and her family may now see the justice they have long waited for.
