Wednesday, July 22nd 2015, 12:24 pm
A suspect in the murder of a Talala man who was missing for weeks described to police how he died, according to an arrest report.
A private investigator and a family member found the body of Chazz Holly, 27, along the highway near Antlers, Oklahoma on Sunday, July 19, 2015.
Police arrested 27-year-old Vernon Smith for second-degree murder the next day.
7/20/2015: Related Story: Missing Talala Man's Body Found Near Antlers; Police Make Arrest
Holly, who had cerebral palsy and other health issues, disappeared with his father's pickup when his parents took a short vacation in June.
Tulsa Police said they first came into contact with Smith on July 15, 2015 when he contacted them to say Chazz was in the Dallas area and was fine. They contacted Rogers County investigators who said they interviewed Smith and released him pending further evidence that Chazz was not just missing.
Police believe Holly died on Sunday, June 21, 2015.
According to the arrest report, on that date Smith, Holly and a third man decided to sell the truck in Longview, Texas, but then they had a disagreement. The report does not identify the third man.
At an apartment complex in Tulsa, the report states, the third man decided to put Holly in the covered bed of the truck, gagged and with his feet bound and his hands tied in front.
Smith told officers the men decided to sell tools from the truck at a pawn shop at 61st and Peoria. They also used a credit card they took from Holly to put gas in the pickup as well as in a red Suburban, the report states.
After several hours of driving around with Holly in the back of the truck on a very hot day, according to the report, Smith asked the other man if they could get Holly out of the truck. He told officers Holly was near death at that point.
The report says Smith told officers he put fresh clothes on Holly, but then he and the other man decided to drive to Texas. Along the way, it says, Smith discovered Holly was dead, so the driver pulled off the highway and discarded Holly's body.
Smith is in the Tulsa County Jail on one count of 2nd-degree murder and one count of kidnapping. His bond is set at $75,000.
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