The Murder of JaRay Wilson
For this case, I watched an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. It’s season 18 episode 5, titled ‘Good Night and Goodbye.’
A 16-year-old girl is reported missing after she stops responding to messages and phone calls.
Background
JaRay Mickell Wilson was born on September 4, 1996. She lived with her parents, Rodney and Jara, in the small town of Weatherford, Oklahoma, about 20 miles west of Oklahoma City. JaRay was very close to both of her parents, but especially her mom.
JaRay was described as headstrong, and fiercely independent. She enjoyed riding four wheelers, snowmobiles, and motorcycles.
JaRay Wilson
The Disappearance
On October 15, 2012, Jara and Rodney contacted the Custer County Sheriff’s Office to report JaRay missing. They said they last heard from JaRay around 5pm the day before.
Jara and Rodney did admit that JaRay had left their house a week earlier because they had grounded her. They were trying to get JaRay to return home, but JaRay wanted to do things on her own. JaRay had said she would come home if her parents got rid of her curfew, but they said no.
Jara and Rodney stayed in constant communication with their daughter. They would say goodnight and good morning, but all of that changed on October 14. Jara said she last heard from JaRay at 5pm. She tried to send her a message and call her around 10pm, but there was no answer.
JaRay’s Last Movements
In the hours after JaRay disappeared, Jara and Rodney turned to the media, Facebook, and they put up missing posters all over town.
JaRay’s missing poster
At first, the police told the Wilson’s that JaRay had probably run away. But, they eventually issued an Amber Alert, and began to take the case more seriously.
The police obtained JaRay’s cell phone records. JaRay’s cell phone had last pinged on October 14 at 7pm, and it hadn’t been used since. JaRay was in contact with multiple people that day, but the police couldn’t see the actual text messages because they only had the records.
The police spoke to JaRay’s friends. They learned that JaRay had been dropped off at a gas station around 1:45pm, and was picked up at 2:15pm by a friend driving a tan Volvo. The friend said he took JaRay to a friend’s house, but she left to go hang out with Cody Godfrey and Tucker McGee.
Cody and Tucker told the police that they drove around for a few hours, and dropped JaRay off at the University Apartments around 7pm. Their story seemed to match JaRay’s phone records, as her phone had last pinged near the apartments.
Possible Theories
During the investigation, the police learned that JaRay had been dating an older man. This man was 25-years-old, and had a history of drug use and possession. When the police tracked him down, he was in jail. He didn’t seem too concerned about JaRay’s disappearance, and said he wasn’t involved.
He did tell the police that JaRay had sent him a message about owing someone named Gilberto some money. Gilberto was a local drug dealer, and claimed to have connection to the cartel and a human trafficking ring.
The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics became involved because JaRay had told some friends that she feared she would be sold into human trafficking.
The police tracked Gilberto down. He was also in jail for a drug charge. Gilberto admitted to knowing JaRay, and said they had mutual friends, and would sometimes give her rides. Gilberto said he wasn’t involved in JaRay’s disappearance. He agreed to take a polygraph test, and passed.
Gilberto wasn’t the tough person he claimed to be. He didn’t have any connection to the cartel or any international operations. He was cleared as a suspect.
With Friends Like These…
A year passed since JaRay disappeared, and the police weren’t receiving any tips.
The police decided to go back to the beginning, and re-interview JaRay’s friends that she had spent time with on October 14, 2012. They soon zeroed in on Cody Godfrey and Tucker McGee.
Cody and Tucker didn’t change their stories, and claimed to have dropped JaRay off near the University Apartments. However, there was no one who had heard from JaRay after they dropped her off. The police just knew they were hiding something.
A grand jury convened in hopes that Tucker and Cody would admit to something while they were under oath. Neither of them changed their stories, until Cody decided to admit to what really happened. The police had been planning to give them polygraph tests, but Cody said he would tell them the truth.
Cody said Tucker had received a message from JaRay asking him for a ride. Cody said Tucker showed him a gun, and said they could kill her. They smoked some synthetic marijuana, and picked her up. They drove out to a deserted area and talked for a few hours. Cody said they were getting ready to leave, so he walked to the car. Tucker had his gun in his waistband, and shot JaRay in the side of the head. JaRay had been messaging on her phone, and hadn’t seen it coming.
Cody said he got out of the car, and heard JaRay moaning on the ground. Tucker had become angry, and asked him why she wasn’t dead. Cody said Tucker shot JaRay again, this time point blank range in the face. Cody said he felt as if he had no choice but to help Tucker move JaRay’s body. They drove back into town, and discarded JaRay’s items in a dumpster.
Cody, Tucker, and another friend, Caleb McLemore, returned to the area the next day, and buried JaRay in a shallow grave.
Shortly before she died, JaRay had texted her friend that she was with Cody and Tucker, and felt “sketched out.”
The Arrests
The police asked Cody to take them to where they buried JaRay. At first, they didn’t find anything. Cody told them that he felt as if they were really close to the area.
The police said they saw a beam of light through the trees, and saw what looked like a skull. Dental records were used to positively identify the remains as JaRay’s.
The police asked Cody if he would call Tucker as they recorded the conversation. Cody can be heard telling Tucker that they really messed up. Tucker said he agreed. Cody then asks Tucker if he got rid of the gun, and Tucker said, “it’s gone.”
The police decided to bring Caleb in for an interview. At first, he was very uncooperative. The police said Caleb looked down, and read the message on the cap of his energy drink, which said, “everyone knows.” Caleb told them everything, and his story matched Cody’s.
Tucker McGee was arrested at his home. Inside his home, the police found several Dexter posters, it was clear he had a fascination with the show. He was charged with first degree murder.
The Convictions
In February 2015, Tucker went on trial. He showed no emotion or remorse. He was found guilty of first degree murder, and was sentenced to life without parole.
Tucker appealed his conviction. Due to his age at the time of the murder, the Oklahoma legislature said Tucker would have a possibility of parole. He was just 10 days shy of turning 18 at the time he killed JaRay. JaRay’s parents were obviously devastated. He was re-sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 38 years.
Cody McGee pled guilty to being an accessory, and received no prison time.
Caleb McLemore also pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact. He served 2 years in prison, and was given 15 years of probation.
Tucker McGee and Cody Godfrey
Caleb McLemore
FINAL THOUGHTS
JaRay didn’t get the justice she deserved. Only one of her killers is in prison, and could get paroled someday. It’s scary because he’s obviously a dangerous individual. There’s not really much a motive. It seems like Tucker was fascinated with being like Dexter, and decided to kill JaRay because she needed a ride that day. All three of them should be in prison right now.
Sources
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128023507/jaray-mickell-wilson
https://www.koco.com/article/parents-read-last-text-of-teenage-homicide-victim-in-court/4299001#
https://mycrimelibrary.com/tucker-mcgee-teen-killer-murder-in-oklahoma/
