Oklahoma Woman Charged with Murdering Husband After Calling 911

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A 70-year-old Oklahoma woman named Elizabeth Poteete has been charged with first-degree murder after she allegedly shot and killed her 70-year-old husband Troy Wayne Poteete while he was sleeping in a chair with a CPAP machine on his face. Poteete called 911 and told dispatchers that she had shot her husband several times and would be waiting for deputies on the porch of their residence.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the complex issues of domestic violence, mental health, and gun violence that can occur even in long-term marriages. The fact that the incident took place within the Cherokee Nation also raises questions about jurisdiction and how such cases are handled across tribal and state lines.

The details

According to the police affidavit, earlier on the day of the incident, Elizabeth Poteete had called 911 claiming to see an unidentified man on her property. Deputies responded but found nothing suspicious. They then contacted Troy Poteete, who was not home at the time, to inform him of his wife's report, which the deputies believed was a "mental episode." Later that night, Elizabeth Poteete called 911 again to say she had shot her sleeping husband multiple times. When deputies arrived, they found Troy Poteete dead in his chair and Elizabeth Poteete waiting for them on the porch as she had stated.

• On February 6, 2026, around 6 PM, Elizabeth Poteete called 911 to report seeing an unidentified man on her property.
• On February 6, 2026, at 11:17 PM, Elizabeth Poteete called 911 to report that she had shot her husband Troy multiple times.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Elizabeth Poteete is scheduled to be arraigned on the first-degree murder charge on March 3, 2026. Since the incident occurred within the Cherokee Nation, the case is now being investigated by the FBI.