James Jay Dezelle

Date Found: July 21, 1982

Location: Lawton, Oklahoma

Investigating Agency: Lawton Police Department

(580) 581-3270

James Jay Dezelle, pictured here at 18, was found murdered in Lawton, Oklahoma on July 21st, 1982. His case remains unsolved.

On the morning of July 21st, at 7 am, a passing motorist on Rogers Lane in Lawton found the still warm body of James Dezelle. The 35-year-old man had been shot and left on the side of the road near Fort Sill. It was determined the man had been shot four times – three times in the chest and once in the chin. Police believe he’d just been shot when he was found. The newspaper articles mentions police believe it could be drug related.

James was born December 22nd, 1946 in Lawton, Oklahoma. He atteded Lawton High School and then went on to enlist in the Army. He served from July 26th, 1966 to July 25th, 1968.

Please call the Lawton PD at (580) 581-3270 with any information in the unsolved murder of Army veteran James Jay Dezelle. Any information is helpful.