An Oklahoma man sentenced to life in prison for murdering his 5-year-old daughter by setting her on fire believed she was being controlled.
Adam Raymond Mason, 34, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday for the August 2020 murder of his daughter. According to court records, Mason first assaulted the child by repeatedly punching her in the face. He then led her to a creek, put a tire over her, and set her on fire.
“What Mason did to this five-year-old girl was inhumane. There will be no first dance for her. “She will not have the opportunity to attend college or become a mother,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “Prosecutors and law enforcement worked very hard on this case. “Life imprisonment demonstrates the gravity of this crime and ensures public safety.”
Police were called to check on the girl’s well-being after she spent the night with her father, Mason. Mason refused to allow her to speak with the girl, so her mother called the police.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered the burned body of a child, whom they believed to be five years old.
“The suffering this innocent child endured at the hands of her own father is beyond comprehension. “The defendant deserves every second of the sentence imposed, and then some,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater.
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners will use all available tools and authority to combat this type of evil in our community. I commend the investigators and prosecutors for their unwavering dedication to this case. Our thoughts are with everyone who loved this child.
After discovering the girl’s body, officers searched the area and discovered Mason hiding in the woods. He was taken into custody. Prosecutors claim Mason told authorities he believed the 5-year-old was being controlled by witchcraft.
According to the Kansas City Star, Mason’s attorney told McClatchy News that he was addicted to methamphetamine at the time of the killing.
According to the newspaper, Mason “acted in the midst of a methamphetamine hallucination” but “accepts responsibility for his acts and expresses remorse for his terrible actions.”
