Victim's Family Speaks Out After Convicted Murderer Could Get New Trial Due To Supreme Court's McGirt Decision

The family of an Oklahoma woman murdered nearly 20 years ago is speaking out.

They're upset because the man convicted, Tyler Mullins, has applied for post-conviction relief citing the Supreme Court's ruling in the McGirt v. Oklahoma case. 

Rachel Woodall's family said they are devastated. 

It's been 19 years, but Rachel's mom, Tammy Woodall, still remembers 2002.

Ada police said Mullins led officers to the grave of his on- and off-again girlfriend, 21-year-old Rachel Woodall. In rural Seminole County of off State Highway 56, they found the East Central University student.

"(He) Got life without parole plead guilty, no jury trial, went to prison a year later," Tammy Woodall said. "So we pick up our lives and move on, and then this McGirt stuff comes up last summer."

Now, Mullins has applied for post-conviction relief, submitting his Chickasaw Nation ID and a tribal verification letter to the court.

In January, a district judge said they were waiting to hear what would happen with the Shaun Bosse case. 

Bosse, a death row inmate, was convicted of killing a mother and her two young kids, who were Native American, on the land historically owned by the Chickasaw Nation.

On Friday, Bosse was granted a new trial, expanding federal jurisdiction to crimes involving the Chickasaw Nation.

"Its an awful feeling that we have to go through this crap again," said Tammy Woodall. "And its not just me, it's all these families."

Pontotoc County District Attorney Paul Smith said he anticipates cases like Mullins' to be put on a court docket or for the judge to issue an order.

If Mullin's request is granted, federal or tribal court could pick up the case.

The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Christopher J. Wilson, said their office is partnering with the district attorneys and tribal prosecutors within the Eastern District to identify cases impacted by decisions like Bosse.

He said they have forged working relationships with all levels of law enforcement to investigate crimes occurring within Indian Country.