Caring grandparents turned adoptive parents Larry and Deborah Dutton provided a secure environment for their teenage granddaughter, Heidi, whom they had adopted as a baby and raised in Dewey, Oklahoma. The Duttons, aged 72 and 67 respectively, had retired from the US Air Force and were well-known in their close-knit community for their kindness and generosity. Heidi, then 17, had been in a relationship with Lucas Walker, 20, for a few months, a connection that seemed to lead her down a troubling path.
Concerns arose in January 2023 when neighbors and family hadn’t seen the Duttons since before the Christmas holidays, prompting requests for a police welfare check. Subsequent police action revealed a disturbing scene at the Dutton residence, with evidence suggesting foul play. A search warrant was obtained, leading to the discovery of bloodstains and ultimately the bodies of Larry and Deborah buried in the backyard.
The investigation unveiled a grim sequence of events involving a planned and vicious attack on the elderly couple by Walker and Heidi. Walker, armed with a gun and a knife, carried out the brutal murders while Heidi initially tried to cover for him but later changed her story. The shocking details of the crime included the couple’s attempted cleanup of the crime scene and their continued residence in the house following the killings.
Walker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 35-year prison sentence, while Heidi admitted to first-degree murder, conspiracy, and desecration of corpses, resulting in a life sentence with the possibility of parole after serving 85% of a 45-year term. The district attorney emphasized the severity of the crime but also acknowledged Heidi’s youth in determining the sentence.
The tragic outcome highlighted a stark betrayal of trust, as Larry and Deborah, who had provided Heidi with a loving home, met a tragic end at the hands of those they had welcomed into their family.