Staff Reports
Pauls Valley Daily Democrat
Pauls Valley, Oklahoma —
No bond will be allowed for an Elmore City area man facing a murder charge for killing and dismembering another man’s body before disposing of the remains in a pond.
The decision on Tuesday morning came after a Garvin County judge heard arguments and brief testimony, including from the defendant himself, Justin Hammer, 30, on whether or not a bond total would be set in the case.
Hammer faces a formal charge of first-degree murder with deliberate intent for killing Brandon Mark Duran on the night of Aug. 7 at Hammer’s rural residence northeast of Elmore City.
Hammer has claimed it was self defense when he used a shotgun to fire the deadly shot into the face of Duran. He later told authorities that Duran was making verbal threats while forcing his way through a door at the Hammer residence.
Testimony later in the hearing indicated Hammer might have planned out the killing in advance.
The defendant has admitted to dragging Duran’s dead body to a bathroom and using a saw to cut off his arms, legs and head
The different body parts were then placed into five white 5-gallon paint buckets, along with concrete and water. The dismembered torso was placed in a dog cage and wrapping in a tarp.
The items were later than night dropped in a farm pond on Hammer’s own property.
During Hammer’s video arraignment on Aug. 10 a bond of $2 million was set by Special District Judge Trisha Misak.
After hearing arguments in a Pauls Valley courtroom on Tuesday and spending a few minutes to look closer at state law, Misak ruled that no bond would be allowed in the Hammer murder case.
Editor's note: A full story will be available in Thursday's edition of the Democrat.
