One Year Later, Few Leads in Murder of Anadarko Pastor

Staff and Wire Reports

ANADARKO, Oklahoma -- One year after a pastor was found dead inside her Anadarko church building, the case remains unsolved and authorities say there have been few leads.

The body of 61-year-old Carol Daniels of Oklahoma City was found last August 23 inside Christ Holy Sanctified Church. Her neck and throat had been slashed and she had been stabbed in the chest, back, stomach and hands. No one has been arrested in her death.

In July, the church building was torn down to make room for a permanent memorial. Carol Daniels' friends said then that they would never forget her.

"She was a fine person, a wonderful lady, and the people that knew her here loved her," said Anadarko Pastor Ted Mercer.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation inspector Stan Florence said that there have been fewer than 100 leads in the case, which is fewer than expected in a high profile murder case. But the OSBI said many have been good leads that may yet yield results.

Conscience may in time persuade a crucial witness to come forward to solve the case and there's also a $15,000 reward.

"One year is an eternity for these people. It's not for OSBI. We are still working on some cases that are 20 and 30 years old--and solving them," said OSBI spokesperson Jessica Brown.

Daniels' mother, 82-year-old Charles Etta Dunlap, said she is coping better with the passage of time and that she has not given up hope that her daughter's killer will be found.

If you have any information about Reverend Daniels' murder, no matter how insignificant it may seem, call the OSBI hotline at 1-800-522-8017.