Digging Deeper into The Innocent Man: Connecting the Victims

Jana Christine Norman

On November 15, 1981, Norman (21) went missing from a party located southwest of Seminole, Oklahoma. Norman was a student at Seminole Junior College. Her mother reported her missing on November 23. On May 20, 1986, her skull and (possibly) leg bone were found alongside a Seminole County road. Her cause of death and whether or not she was sexually assaulted were not determinable.

Patricia “Patty” Hamilton

On April 9, 1983, Hamilton (18) went missing from the Seminole U Totem Store at which she worked. She was abducted at approximately 4:35 AM. In October, 1991, Hamilton’s skeletal remains were found near Konawa, Oklahoma — about 20 miles from her abduction location.

Melody Ann Jones

On May 5, 1983, Jones (18) went missing from her home, which was 2 miles from Earlsboro and approximately 12 miles from Seminole. Jones’ husband, Paul, was murdered due to his being home at the time of Melody’s abduction. Paul died from two stab wounds. The contents of Melody’s purse were dumped out in the kitchen floor. There was no indication that robbery was a motive, and no clues to indicate that the married couple had been involved in a domestic disturbance. Authorities believed that more than one person was involved.

Melissa Moore

On March 26, 1984, Moore (22) went missing from a Tulsa (college) sorority house. Her vehicle was found abandoned at a residential area. Her partially clothed body was found floating under a bridge near Pryor, Oklahoma. Authorities suspected that she was thrown off of the bridge.

Donna Denise Haraway

On April 23 (or 24), 1984, Haraway (24) was abducted from McAnally’s convenience store in Ada, Oklahoma. Haraway was a student at East Central State University.

Connections Between The Cases:

All of the victims were between the ages of 18 and 24. The abductors of these women were mostly likely young men in their early 20’s who either attended college or were friends with others who did. Moreover, they attended parties at various colleges. Further, they likely had an accomplice or a younger sibling around the age of 16–19, or the younger victims attended college parties themselves.

Jana Norman’s abductor(s) were mostly likely at the party from which she disappeared. The party occurred slightly southwest of Seminole. Norman was a Seminole college student. Her abductor(s) knew her from Seminole or college parties, but most likely both.

Patricia Hamilton either attended college parties, went to high school with an accomplice or relative of one or both of her abductors, or she was merely chosen due to the abductors stopping at the store at which she was employed. Due to the fact that Hamilton was abducted at 4:35 AM, I suspect the latter possibility. Her abductors probably attended a party and failed to find a victim, so, after the party, they went to the store at which they knew she worked. Regardless, her abductor(s) knew her from Seminole or college parties, but most likely the first.

Melody Jones’ abductor was either a classmate of hers or her husbands. Her husband, who was 21, may have attended college parties, and Melody may have accompanied him to those parties. She may have been chosen at that time when she was spotted by her eventual abductor(s). Her husband was likely a passive man, and at least one of the abductors most likely knew that they’d easily be able to overpower Paul, or that Paul thought enough of them that he would not be alarmed at their coming to his home uninvited.

It’s also possible that Melody was a friend of Patricia Hamilton. If this is true, then Melody likely visited Patricia at the store at which she worked. The abductors may have identified both girls at the store. Therefore, Jones was either abducted due to attending college parties, her or her husband’s being a classmate of an abductor or accomplice, or due to the Seminole connection of being acquantainces with Hamilton.

Melissa Moore was chosen from a college party also. Haraway was either known from the college she attended, from a college party, or from her abductor(s) seeing her at the store at which she worked.

David Robbins was questioned regarding Hamilton’s disappearance. Don Hawkins and Shelton were also suspects, because authorities stated Shelton likely knew Hamilton.

There were rewards offered in both the Hamilton and the Jones cases. However, no one came forward.

Moore’s case offered a suspect desrviption of a man in his early to mid 20’s. Suspects were George Lester Sides, Travis Lee McGuire, and Gary Walker.

Haraway’s case offered a suspsect description of two men in their early 20’s.