Woman driven to kill by Ouija board, investigators say

MINCO, Okla. (AP) -- Relatives say Carol Sue Elvaker had no history of mental illness or odd behavior. Police investigating the stabbing death of her son-in-law found no signs of alcohol or drug use, or even domestic problems in the home.

Instead, they say a Ouija board is what drove Elvaker to fatally stab 34-year-old Brian Roach as he slept.

"Something like this, it's unbelievable. I guess it's everywhere," said Joe Gilbert, mayor of the Grady County town of 1,400 located about 30 miles from Oklahoma City.

Elvaker, 53, was charged Monday with first-degree murder, said Brett Burns, assistant district attorney.

Police found Roach dead at his home Sunday from one stab wound to his chest, said Kym Koch, spokeswoman with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. It initially was viewed as a domestic violence episode, then police learned other details.

Burns said Elvaker, her daughter Tammy Sue Roach, and Tammy Roach's two daughters, ages 15 and 10, were playing with the Ouija board while Brian Roach was asleep. Elvaker then attacked Brian Roach, he said.

"This is basically the grandmother saying that Brian Roach needed to die," Burns said.

Elvaker also is suspected of trying to kill the 10-year-old daughter.

"She thought the 10-year-old was evil and thought the father was evil," Burns said.

Tammy Roach, 34, took the knife away from Elvaker and hid it in the house. She then left the house with Elvaker and the two children, Koch said.

Elvaker drove the four toward Tulsa on Interstate 44. She eventually crashed the car into a road sign in an attempt to kill all of them, Burns said.

Elvaker broke both ankles in the wreck. The others were injured slightly. After getting out of the car, Elvaker tried unsuccessfully to push the 15-year-old into traffic, authorities said.

Despite her injuries, Elvaker ran from the scene, shed all her clothes, jumped over the highway median barrier and ran into a wooded area north of the interstate, Koch said. Police found her hiding in the woods.

Tammy Roach was arrested Monday on a complaint of being an accessory to murder.

Burns said Brian Roach begged for help, but was allowed to bleed to death. Tammy Roach also hid the knife, supplied the getaway vehicle and didn't try to get away from Elvaker when she had the chance, Burns said.

"It's amazing how the grandmother was able to let this Ouija board consume her life and how she was able to brainwash her daughter and granddaughters," he said.

Brian Roach ran for mayor of Minco in 1986, when he was 19. He won by eight votes. He unsuccessfully crusaded for more police officers during his first year as mayor. He finished his public office career in 1991 as a city councilman.