The Murder of Juli Busken
Warning, this case does discuss the topic of sexual assault.
For this case, I watched an episode of Forensic Files. It’s season 13 episode 13, titled ‘Sands of Crime.’
A young college student is killed, but the case goes unsolved for years.
Background
Jewell Jean Busken, or Juli, as she will be referred as, had always dreamed of being a ballerina. She was attending the University of Oklahoma, and was on her way to earning her Bachelor’s degree in dance. After college, Juli wanted to open up a studio, and teach children to dance.
Juli was described as popular, and had many friends at school. She was also very talented.
Juli Busken
The Disappearance
In the early morning hours of December 20, 1996, Juli had taken her friend to the airport around 4am. It would be the last time anyone would see or hear from her.
At 5:30am, a man that lived in the same apartment complex as Juli, called 911. He said that he and his wife had been asleep, when he heard a “really loud awful scream” coming from the parking lot. A man was also heard saying shut up, and to get into the car. Many neighbors had said that they heard the scream, and saw a car driving out of the lot.
Juli’s parents drove from their home in Arkansas to Oklahoma to help Juli pack up her apartment. Juli had just finished all of her required coursework. When they arrived, they were told that their daughter was missing. Juli’s red Eagle Summit was also gone.
The Discovery
Just 12 hours after Juli disappeared, her body was found on the bank of a lake. The lake was about 15 miles from her apartment.
Juli’s hands had been bound with shoelaces, and were tied behind her back. She had been shot once, execution style in the back of the head. Juli had also been sexually assaulted. There was a sign that her pants had been pulled down, and a pink leotard was found about 20 feet from her body. Juli’s initials were found on the tag. The leotard had seminal fluid on it, which was sent in for testing.
The police were also able to find footprints in the red sand near the lake. There had been a strong wind, so some of the footprints were compromised. The police were able to photograph some of the shoe patterns. The shoes were a size 9 Nike running shoe. The Nike corporation was able to identify the shoe as a Nike Air 2.
Juli’s red Eagle Summit was found in an apartment complex parking lot, just a block away from where she lived. The same red sand was found in the car. It meant that her killer had driven the car to this complex parking lot after he had killed her.
Juli’s cell phone was reported missing, as well as a ring that she always wore. Juli’s cell phone records were looked into. Juli’s phone had been used after she had died. The killer had used the phone to call the weather forecast and a number that had been out of service.
The Sketch
A $70,000 reward was put out for any information on Juli’s case.
About a month into the investigation, the police received a phone call from a man who had seen Juli’s car on the night she died. He recognized the car after seeing a photo of it. The man said he had been driving near the lake, when a red car had cut him off. He said he was pissed about it, so he followed the car for about 5 miles.
The man worked with a forensic artist named Harvey Pratt. The drawing was of a young Hispanic male, possibly college aged with long dark hair. The sketch was broadcasted to all of the media and news in Oklahoma. No one recognized the person in the photo, and Juli’s case went cold.
A Possible Suspect
The next lead came about 4 1/2 years after Juli’s murder.
A call came into the police from a female inmate at the Oklahoma County Jail. She said she had seen the police sketch, and thought it resembled her former acquaintance, who was man named Dennis.
At the time of Juli’s death, Dennis had worked in construction, and lived about 4 blocks away from Juli.
Dennis had refused to answer questions, or to give the police his DNA. A court order was obtained for Dennis’ DNA. The DNA was described as being similar to the DNA of the suspect, but it wasn't a match. Dennis was ruled out as a suspect.
Dennis’ brother was also looked into. The police thought it was odd since Dennis’ DNA was so close, that they thought it could’ve been a relative of his that had killed Juli. Dennis’ brother was his only living relative, but he was also ruled out.
A Suspect Emerges
Six years after Juli was killed, a man named Anthony Sanchez was arrested for the rape of his former girlfriend.
Once he was arrested, Anthony had to provide his DNA. As the police waited for the results, they spoke to former girlfriends and acquaintances of Anthony. One former girlfriend had written in her diary in October 1996, that Anthony had bought her some Nike’s, and had purchased a pair for himself. It was the Nike Air 2 shoes, and Anthony wore a size 9.
Another girlfriend of Anthony’s, who had lived with him, told the police that Anthony had a unique habit. He and his dad would often shoot .22mm guns in their home.
A warrant was obtained for the home. The police weren’t able to find anything when they used an x-ray machine, or when they tore down the walls. However, the landlord had gone into the home after the police left to clean up. The landlord was able to find a .22 bullet. The bullet was consistent to the bullet found at the scene, and it had the same unique grooves.
Anthony’s DNA was also a match to the DNA found on Juli’s leotard. He was arrested and charged with murder.
The Conviction
At the time of Juli’s murder, Anthony was 18 years old. He had lived about a mile away from Juli, and was a known thief.
The police’s theory was that Anthony had been out on December 20, stealing Christmas presents from random cars. Juli had returned home from dropping her friend off at the airport, and Anthony saw her. Juli was abducted at gun point, and directed to drive to the lake.
Anthony then, sexually assaulted and killed Juli. He left behind his DNA, footprints, and had attempted to call one of his ex-girlfriends from Juli’s phone. He had been one number off, which explained why the call had gone to a number that wasn’t in service.
In 2006, Anthony was convicted of murder, and sentenced to death.
Anthony Sanchez
A more recent photo of Anthony
Other
In 2009, Anthony’s request for a new hearing was denied.
At the University of Oklahoma, there is a dance scholarship in Juli’s memory at the College of Fine Arts.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Juli had her whole life ahead of her. She was close to finally graduating, and maybe starting her own studio. However, she was in the wrong place at the wrong time that night. Anthony had been a thief and rapist, and sadly, his crimes escalated to murder. At least Juli and her family have finally gotten justice, even if it took several years to get there.
Sources
https://crimesandconsequences.com/juli-busken/
https://www.oudaily.com/sanchez-guilty/article_7c99e8cb-5cb0-5911-b7c2-31438730835c.html
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/aug/23/oklahoma-court-turns-down-killer-201708/
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2011/dec/20/ou-remembers-arkansas-ballerina-15-years-after-dea/
