Effie Verna Cantwell

Date Found: May 22, 1984

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

Investigating Agency: Lawton Crime Stoppers

(580)355-4636

On May 22nd, 1984, the body of 68-year-old Effie Verna Cantwell was discovered in her home in Lawton, Oklahoma. There have been no arrests in Effie’s murder in the last 40 years.

Effie’s neighbor, who checked on her every day, found Effie at 2:30 pm in her bedroom in her bed. Both the front and back doors had been kicked in but police were unable to determine if she’d been robbed. Effie was partially nude and lying face up when found and it’s believed she was possibly raped. She’d been deceased at least 12-14 hours. It was determined Effie was murdered by suffocation. Effie was a widow with emphysema who lived alone.

Effie was born Effie Verna Custis on January 22nd, 1916 in Arkansas. She served in the US Army from 1943-1945 – Cpl HQ 4 Mapping SQ. Her husband passed away in 1976.

If you have any information in the senseless murder of Effie Verna Cantwell please call the Lawton Crime Stoppers at 580-355-4636. Any information is helpful.