Pittsburg Co. Deputies Arrest Suspect In Holly Cantrell's Murder

The Pittsburg County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest in the homicide case of Holly Cantrell.

The Pittsburg County Sheriff says he became emotional when he told Holly's family Cody Ketchum was in custody, especially after all her family has been through the past five years.

"We got him in handcuffs, I told him, Cody Ketchum you're under arrest for the murder of Holly Cantrell, he took a sigh of breath and dropped his head, and that was it, he didn't say a word," said Sheriff Chris Morris.

Holly Cantrell first went missing in 2017, when she left the McAlester Hospital on her lunch break. Her purse was found a month later, and remains found a year after that.

In 2020, the remains were identified as Holly. Morris says Ketchum was always considered a suspect because he was the last person seen with Holly, but it was cell phone evidence brought out during an appearance before the state's multi-county grand jury that led to Ketchum's indictment.

"If I call a witness to come into my office to interview them, and they don't come, I can't force them to come talk to me, but if a grand jury subpoena them, they have to show up and tell the truth," Morris said.

Morris says investigators have worked hard on this case, and it was great to give the family a bit of justice.

"Just imagine if it feels that good for law enforcement, what a feeling it gives to the family, it don't bring their family member back, but when I spoke to them yesterday, they were in tears an arrest had been made," he said.

Ketchum has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and destroying evidence.