Jack Burris

Jack Burris (b. 27 May 1917 Locust Grove, Mayes County, Oklahoma, d. June 1952) [ [http://www.geocities.com/jasgrob/p23.htm#i1611 The Robertson - Smith Connection - Person Page 23 ] ] was the subject of one of the most famous unsolved murders in Oklahoma history [ [http://blog.newsok.com/coldcaseokc Cold Case OKC — Uncover the secrets of Oklahoma City’s unsolved mysteries - www.newsok.com/news/coldcase ] ] . He served as County attorney of Mayes County, Oklahoma from 1947 until his murder in June 1952. His assassination and the investigation of the murder by Sheriff Slim Weaver [ [http://www.mayescountysheriff.org/photos_of_yesteryear.htm Photos Of Yesteryear ] ] as well as the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation [ [http://www.ok.gov/osbi/History/1950_Timeline/index.html Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation - 1950 Timeline ] ] has been the basis for several books and screenplays for over 50 years [The Mammoth Book of Unsolved Crime: The Biggest and Best Collection of Unsolved Murder and Mystery Cases ] . His body was interred in June 1952 at Pryor, Mayes County, Oklahoma.

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Notes on Murder Investigation: Sheriff L.L. "Slim" Weaver in a 1979 documentary (citation coming) retraced his route to scene. He said he picked up photographer Merle Caldwell on the way.They were passed by a white pickup truck with a cattle guard going in the opposite direction.Weaver said he believed this to be the killer.Caldwell had been with Burris earlier in the week taking photos of illegal activities in Langley, Oklahoma.The killer waited outside the house for Burris with a shotgun.A newsman from KOLS radio station [ [http://www.okhistory.org/research/collections/broadcast.html OHS Film Collections ] ] in Pryor, Oklahoma interviewed the alleged killer. The newsman described him as a "quiet man from Vanita" and secretly recorded his confession, but never turned it over to authorities.In October, 1958 Weaver learned of the existence of the tape. However the newsman refused to turn it over. Weaver did not notify the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation at that time. In March, 1959 the newsman disappeared and the case remains unsolved.The image of a tape spool and recorder were on the cover of a 1975 fictional book based on the murder.

List of books and media that were based on this case:

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