Man Arrested, Accused Of Stabbing Girlfriend To Death

A man who just got out of prison eight months ago for domestic assault is now charged with murdering his girlfriend in her Cherry Street apartment.

Investigators say Dilan Newberry stabbed Chandra Cole to death, left the scene, and then called police, asking them to go check on Cole.

Police arrested Newberry at a family member's house in Cushing hours later.

Chandra’s son, Dillon Cole, says he feels like he's living in a nightmare that he can't wake up from. He says he had been around his mom's boyfriend a few times over the last several months and described him as a little odd, but he didn't know Dilan Newberry's real last name and had no idea he had just gotten out of prison. 

"It's crazy to think Friday night was a normal night for me going to bed. And I was going to wake up and get ready for work just like I did; little did I know, not even a mile and a half up the road, was this happening to my mom,” said Dillon.

Chandra leaves behind a son and two daughters who loved her very much. Dillon says his mom wouldn't hurt a fly but would take on the world at any moment. He says she was even a bit of a rebel.

"Her biggest thing was always, love is love. She was happy to know anybody and everybody. A social butterfly, if you will,” said Dillon.

Tulsa Police say Dilan Newberry called them around midnight Friday asking officers to check on Chandra because he was worried about her, and officers later found Chandra dead in her apartment. Investigators say Newberry told them two guys came over to the apartment and tried to beat him up, so he fought back, and Newberry left. But, Police say surveillance video shows Chandra and the suspect were the only ones at the apartment and shows Newberry running out the back, wearing different clothes, 45 minutes before calling 911.

"It's odd, but it is usually indicative of someone trying to establish some kind of alibi for the future, but unfortunately, his didn't hold water,” said Lieutenant Brandon Watkins with Tulsa Police.

Police say this is already the fourth domestic homicide this year.

"It is difficult to see somebody beat on somebody else, or hurt on somebody else, they love,” said Watkins.

Dillon says his mom was all about empowering women, and he hopes her story can be a voice for other domestic violence victims.

"She was one of the brightest, most caring people out there. Love yourself. Appreciate who you are and appreciate others who they are,” said Dillon.

Records show Newberry spent a year and a half in prison for domestic assault with a dangerous weapon and pointing a gun at someone.

He's now in the Tulsa County jail for first-degree murder.