Sen. Hicks’ cold case study highlights efforts to bring justice to victims, families

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Carri Hicks said she will continue her efforts to improve Oklahoma’s response to unsolved violent crimes after a recent interim study at the Capitol, “Justice Delayed: Strengthening Oklahoma’s Response to Cold Cases and Unsolved Violent Crimes.” The study included testimony about the unsolved Oklahoma State Fair Murders, a look at legislation from the state of Georgia, and testimony about cold case efforts within the attorney general’s office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI).

“There’s a saying that justice delayed is justice denied, and it’s true. Some of Oklahoma’s cold cases have been unresolved for decades, like the murders of Cheryl Genzer and Lisa Pennington, who vanished from the State Fair in 1987. They were murdered, and their bodies were later discovered in a shallow grave. Their parents died still awaiting justice for their daughters,” said Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. “There are at least 1,000 other Oklahoma families still awaiting justice for the murders of their loved ones, and that number could actually be much higher. They deserve justice.”

Among those testifying in the interim study was one of Hick’s constituents, Dorian Quillen, a long-time family friend and advocate for the Pennington family. Members of the Senate Public Safety Committee heard Quillen describe how known witnesses, DNA and ballistic evidence could solve the case. Although one suspect died 10 years ago, a second suspect could still be brought to justice. Quillen pointed to a law in Georgia that would give families the ability to have cold cases reinvestigated – something that could help solve other unresolved homicides in Oklahoma, involving thousands of victims and families.

“The lowest number I’ve found was approximately 1,000,” said Quillen, who said the actual number of unsolved murders in the state could be more than twice that. “That’s a lot of people. That’s a lot of empty seats at the holidays. That’s a lot of people missing weddings and births and all the things that make up our lives.”

The OSBI presented information on that agency’s cold case unit which began in 2018. They currently have 445 cases, and so far have solved 98. Jimmy Harmon, chief of the criminal division of the state attorney general’s office told the committee about another well-known cold case in Oklahoma, 8-year-old Kirsten Hatfield, who was abducted from her Midwest City home in 1997 and murdered. Years later, DNA evidence ultimately was matched to a neighbor, and he was convicted in 2017, then was murdered in 2019 by a cellmate.

“One of the things we learned is that suspects in cold cases are often connected to other violent crimes,” Hicks said. “When these cases go unsolved, families are denied justice and our communities remain at risk. Cold case teams are doing incredible work to bring closure and accountability, but it’s clear that with more resources, we could go even further to deliver justice and keep Oklahomans safe.”

Hicks said she will continue to dig into this topic ahead of the session, including touring the OSBI forensics lab and meeting with agents and technicians.

“These Oklahomans deserve justice,” Hicks said. “I’m committed to finding ways we can strengthen ongoing efforts and explore legislation that truly helps families get the answers and closure they deserve.”

The full archived livestream of the interim study can be accessed at oksenate.gov by selecting “Live Proceedings” and locating the October 2, 1:00 p.m. Public Safety Committee meeting.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Carri Hicks at 405-521-5543 or Carri.Hicks@oksenate.gov