Judge dismisses lawsuit against state leaders after 2021 Chickasha triple murder

An Oklahoma County judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming negligence against Oklahoma government officials leading up to a 2021 triple murder in Chickasha.

Lawrence Anderson was charged for, the 2021 killings of his uncle, Leon Pye, Pye’s 4-year-old granddaughter Kaoes Yates, and their neighbor, Andrea Blankenship, in Chickasha, and family members of the victims filed the lawsuit in 2024.

Details of the Crimes

According to court documents, Anderson confessed to killing Andrea Blankenship and removing her heart. He said he took the organ to his uncle’s home and attempted to feed it to his relatives. He then killed Leon Pye and Kaoes Yates, and seriously injured Delsie Pye. The case shocked the community, and prosecutors noted that many of the details were too disturbing to share publicly.

RELATED: Lawrence Anderson Convicted In 2021 Triple-Murder 

McGirt Dismissal Request Denied

A Grady County judge denied Anderson’s motion to dismiss the charges under the McGirt ruling. Anderson had argued that the crimes took place on Native American land and that the state lacked jurisdiction. However, the judge ruled that Anderson was not a tribal citizen and that the charges would stand. Two of the victims were members of tribal nations. Anderson waived his preliminary hearing and was returned to jail following the proceeding.

RELATED: Grady Co. Man Charged After Spree Killings, Accused Of Removing One Victim's Heart

Plea Agreement and Sentencing

Anderson pleaded guilty to all five charges in 2023: three counts of first-degree murder, one count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon, and one count of maiming. The plea agreement, requested by the victims’ families to avoid a lengthy trial, ensured Anderson would not face the death penalty. He was sentenced to three life sentences without parole and two life sentences, all to run consecutively.

RELATED: Triple-Murder Suspect In Grady County Pleads Guilty

Victim Impact Statements

Family members gave emotional impact statements in court. Kaoes Yates’ parents mourned the loss of their daughter’s future, and the granddaughter of Leon and Delsie Pye addressed Anderson directly, expressing grief and anger. Andrea Blankenship’s children also spoke, describing the lasting trauma of losing their mother in such a brutal way.

RELATED: Family Speaks Out As Triple-Murderer Pleads Guilty

“We're traumatized and scarred for literally life, and nothing can take that pain away,” Haylee Blankenship, Andrea Blankenship’s daughter, said in an interview with News 9 in 2025.

Early Release and Public Outcry

Anderson had previously been serving a 20-year sentence that was commuted down to nine years. He was released after serving just three years. Grady County District Attorney Jason Hicks criticized the commutation and blamed criminal justice reform for Anderson’s early release. Relatives of the victims, including Brooke Burris-Wofford, expressed outrage, noting that Anderson’s parole officer had flagged him as a danger to society.

RELATED: Grady Co. Man Charged After Spree Killings, Accused Of Removing One Victim's Heart

“He was listed as a threat to himself and society by his parole officer. He was denied commutation once and then reapplied three weeks later, and then eventually got approved,” Blankenship said, explaining the reasoning behind the families’ negligence lawsuit.

Lawsuit Filed Against Governor and Pardon and Parole Board

Members of the Pye and Blankenship families filed a civil lawsuit in 2024 claiming Governor Kevin Stitt and the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board should never have allowed Anderson out of prison.

The families argued that the actions of these government officials led to the deaths of Pye, Yates and Blankenship.

However, the Governor’s attorney, Robert McCampbell, claimed Stitt was not legally responsible for Anderson’s actions after he was released.

McCampbell said in a statement to News 9 quote, “Although we are sympathetic with the victims in this matter, as noted by the judge, the Governor is not legally responsible for Mr. Anderson’s crimes.”

“It makes me feel like the state is just looking me in the face and being like. It's unfortunate that your mom was dismembered and murdered, but, you know, it's not our fault. They don't hold us accountable. We don't want to help. We don't want to be blamed. We don't want bad media. We want our reputation to stay good. And you guys are victims, and you can stay victims. But we don't care. That's how it feels,” Blankenship said.

An Oklahoma County judge dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice on Monday, meaning the Governor and the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board cannot be sued over the same case again.