Marie G. Dighton “Frieda”

On June 5th, 2008, beloved mother and grandmother Marie “Frieda” Dighton was found deceased during a welfare check in Buffalo Valley, Oklahoma. Her daughter had called in a welfare check after she couldn’t reach her mother. Frieda had recently had pneumonia and had been gravely ill.

When police arrived they found both vehicles parked outside Frieda’s home. Once they entered the home they found Frieda’s body in the bedroom. Initially it was assumed she died from natural causes but when they began the process of releasing her body law enforcement realized their mistake. By then the crime scene had been compromised and potential evidence was lost.

The autopsy showed that Frieda’s throat had been slashed, showing a total of nine cuts to her neck. She had defensive wounds on her left hand. It is believed that she was killed the previous day between 1 and 2pm. There were no signs of a struggle or robbery. Her wedding ring was still on her finger. Law enforcement has struggled with finding a motive in Frieda’s murder.

Frieda was the mother to five children and an adored grandmother. A native of Germany, having survived WWII, she was strong woman. At the time her husband, a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, was at a veteran’s home where she visited him every single day, without fail. Frieda was 67-years-old at the time of her murder.

There is a $15,000 reward in Frieda’s case.

Please call the OSBI tipline at 800-522-8017 with any information in the brutal murder of beloved Marie “Frieda” Dighton.