Bonnie Sue Harper

Date Found: February 11, 1976

Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Investigating Agency: Oklahoma City Crime Stoppers

(405) 235-7300

Bonnie Sue Launder Harper was found sitting in the middle of SW 15th in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with a stab wound to the heart at 8pm on February 11th, 1976. Bonnie was conscious, begging for help. She was taken to South Community Hospital where she was announced dead upon arrival. Bonnie’s face had been beaten beyond recognition. Her vehicle was found parked on the street with doors open (it doesn’t specify how many doors were open) and blood on the driver’s seat. Her purse was on the passenger seat with nothing taken. Bonnie had left her house that evening with the intention of going to the laundromat to dry some clothing. That clothing was found on the backseat, dried. It seems she was on her way home when the murder occurred.

Her boyfriend at the time, Jim Judd, was waiting for Bonnie at her mom’s house when the murder happened. The couple had an argument earlier in the day and Jim wanted to “kind of surprise her.”. Bonnie was already on her way to the laundromat when he arrived at the home located at 3517 NW 22nd St. Jim was cleared and is not a suspect. Billy Jack Stone was a material witness that was questioned and released, as was Jimmy Lee Prestridge. A man named Phillip Duane Parton was also questioned because Bonnie had recently been a defendant against him in a robbery case that was later dropped. Phillip allegedly robbed the Dot Club, located at 625 SW 29th, where Bonnie often worked. Bonnie was a bartender and ticket collector for a few clubs, including the Candlelite Club at 4320 S. Robinson.

Bonnie was born on September 30th, 1954 in Pasadena, California. She was 21-years-old at the time of her murder. She had two young daughters and had been recently divorced from Wendall Murl Harper, whom she married at age 17. Wendall was questioned and released. Bonnie had attended Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City before her marriage. Bonnie was well liked and is described as funny, always making people laugh. Her murder remains unsolved.

Please call the Oklahoma City Crime Stoppers at (405) 235-7300 with any information in the murder of young mother Bonnie Sue Launder Harper.