Arrest made after man finds brother dead in OKC home
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - An arrest was made after a man found his brother dead in his south Oklahoma City home on Sunday.
"I pulled back the curtain and I saw my brother lying on the floor with a bunch of blood. I ran screaming," said Stan Southwick.
Merle Southwick was killed days before he was found according to a new arrest warrant. Stan said he was headed over to Merle's home at Shield's Mobile Home Park near South 66th Street and Shields.
"We go to church together every Sunday. Every morning we go to church," said Stan. He said Merle's life had changed for the better ever since he started attending Beverly Hills Baptist Church.
This Sunday was different. Stan said he went to pick up Merle but he never answered the door.
"So I climbed in that window, I hollered for him. They have a sheet hanging up in the hallway," said Stan. "I went to touch him and it was like touching a plastic bag. That's the last time I got to see him."
Stan brought KFOR over to the back porch and opened the door. The laundry room was at the opening and on the floor in front of the washer and dryer were towels covered in blood.
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"That's where I found him, right there," said Stan. "He shot him from that back room and he slid down right there 'cause he shot him full of holes."
On the back of the mobile home were three bullet holes where they exited. At least one bullet had made its way to the property behind the home, blowing out a window on the van's property.
"I just don't understand it," said Stan through tears. "I know God needed him to come to him but I just wish he didn't do it this way you know. Shot dead."
Stan said that Merle was extremely religious.
A GoFundMe was created by his sister Carla. It read in part: "He would give you the shirt off his back. He would donate to the homeless when he could. He had a big heart and wanted the best for everyone. He had bought his first home and was living out his retirement. Merle would cook holiday dinners and open his door to his family and friends. He was a great cook and always had a full dining room."
In the past five years, the Southwicks have lost their mother, sister, and more. This just adds to the weight of their losses.
"He's in heaven with my mom and dad and my sister and my brother and the good lord. He's up here with them right now," said Stan.
For a couple of days there was not an official suspect but an arrest warrant that was filed Wednesday had one name on it—Kenneth Davis.
Davis was allegedly Merle's roommate and is now the only suspect named in the case.
The warrant alleged that Davis had sold Merle's motorized bicycle in the days after he was shot and killed. It also alleged that Davis had been using Merle's vehicle as well.
Allegations also point to Davis using Merle's cell phone to text back family and friends and acting like he was Merle.
When police responded to the home Davis was nowhere to be found.
He was found and arrested Thursday in Denver, Colorado, because of this specific case.
Oklahoma court records showed that Davis faces a $10 million bond.
If you could sit and be with your brother one more time, say anything to him. What would you say?
"I would just tell I'm that I love him and I miss him and thank you for the time you shared with me and giving the love you gave for me and my family," said Stan.
Funeral services for Merle are said to happen next Saturday morning at Beverly Hills Baptist Church.
The family is having a hard time coming up with donations, so if you'd like to help out they have started a GoFundMe.