A chilling case in Oklahoma has resulted in the conviction of a young woman and her boyfriend for the brutal murder of her adopted grandparents. Heidi Dutton, 19, and her boyfriend, Lucas Anthony Walker, 22, planned and carried out the murders of Larry and Deborah Dutton in December 2022.
The horrific crime, which involved the couple burying the victims in their backyard, shocked both the local community and the nation.
The Crime
Heidi Dutton, who was 17 at the time, and her boyfriend, Walker, were responsible for the brutal killings of Larry, 73, and Deborah, 67. The couple murdered the elderly couple just days before Christmas, and their crime remained hidden until January 2023.
The couple’s family and neighbors grew concerned when they hadn’t heard from the victims, prompting a welfare check on January 20, 2023.
Authorities uncovered the bodies buried in shallow graves in the backyard of the Duttons’ home in Dewey, Oklahoma. It was later revealed that Dutton, who was adopted by Larry and Deborah Dutton, had orchestrated the murders, with her boyfriend Walker carrying out the violent act at her request.
The bodies had been wrapped in sheets, and bloodstains in the bedroom pointed to the violent nature of the crime.
The Murder Details
According to the investigation, Walker entered the Dutton home on December 19, 2022, while the victims were sleeping. He shot Deborah Dutton in the face with a .22 caliber pistol when she opened the bedroom door.
As Larry Dutton attempted to rush to his wife’s aid, Walker’s gun jammed, forcing him to use a knife to stab Larry multiple times in the face, chest, and stomach. Deborah was also stabbed.
The couple then disposed of the bodies by wrapping them in sheets and burying them in the backyard. Ring camera footage captured the two moving at least one body outside.
Dutton admitted to the authorities that she wanted her grandparents dead but offered little more explanation. In court, she reportedly stated, “We kill them,” when describing the crime.
The Investigation and Arrest
After the welfare check and discovery of the bodies, Heidi Dutton and Walker were arrested and interrogated. Both admitted to their involvement in the murders. Walker stated that he had followed through with Dutton’s request and murdered her grandparents.
During the investigation, bloodstains in the home indicated a violent struggle, but the majority of the crime scene had been cleaned.
Sentencing and Legal Outcomes
Heidi Dutton was sentenced to life in prison, with eligibility for parole after serving 85% of a 45-year sentence, roughly 38 years.
Her boyfriend, Lucas Anthony Walker, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison. Both were convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and desecration of a corpse.
Washington County District Attorney Will Drake described the crime as “calculated and brutal” but emphasized that the law requires consideration of youth when sentencing, which influenced the terms of Dutton’s sentence. The victims, Larry and Deborah, had led distinguished lives, with Larry having served as a retired Master Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Air Force.
Motive and Public Reaction
The motive behind the murders remains disturbingly simple: Heidi Dutton said she wanted her grandparents dead.
The lack of any further explanation for such a brutal act has left many in the community struggling to understand how a young woman could commit such a horrific crime against the people who had raised her.
The case highlights the complex and disturbing nature of familial betrayal and the tragic consequences of unchecked anger and resentment.
The murder has sparked outrage and disbelief among the community, particularly among those who knew the Duttons. Friends and family of the victims have expressed their shock at the brutal betrayal, as the couple had raised Heidi as their own daughter and provided for her throughout her life.
The murders of Larry and Deborah Dutton by their adopted granddaughter and her boyfriend is a heartbreaking case of betrayal and violence. The brutal nature of the crime, coupled with the cold indifference of the perpetrators, has left the community in shock.
Heidi Dutton’s life sentence and Walker’s federal prison sentence will serve as a reminder of the deadly consequences of such a violent and senseless crime.
