Okla. Beheading Suspect Charged With 1st Degree Murder

By Brett Snider, Esq.

An Oklahoma man has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly beheading a co-worker from whom he sought revenge.

Alton Nolen, 30, was charged with murder in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, on Tuesday in addition to two assault charges. Prosecutors allege that Nolan beheaded his coworker after being suspended from work; the FBI is looking into possible ties between the gruesome act and terrorism.

Now that Nolen has been charged with first-degree murder, what’s next for the Oklahoma beheading suspect?

Death Penalty ‘Highly Likely’

Oklahoma is one of several states that punishes certain severe crimes with the death penalty. The Associated Press reports that Cleveland County Prosecutor Greg Mashburn stated it was “highly likely” that he would seek the death penalty against Nolen, “but would confer first with [the victim's] family.”

Typically defendants are not eligible for the death penalty unless certain aggravating factors are met by their crimes. In Oklahoma these factors include:

• Previous violent felony convictions;


• Killing or creating risk of death to more than one person;


• Killing for hire or paying for a killer-for-hire;


• Killing a police officer or guard;


• Being a continuing threat to …read more
  

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