Grand jury returns to work

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December 16, 2009

By Barry Porterfield The Democrat Wed Dec 16, 2009, 10:06 AM CST

In an unexpected move, members of a Garvin County grand jury have again resumed looking into a Wynnewood man’s shooting death a year ago.

Just a handful of weeks after issuing its last witness subpoena in the case, the jury appears to be starting back up with their closed-door investigation of Tom Horton’s death.

Even though the group had reportedly recessed until Jan. 13, the six-woman, six-man jury is now scheduled to reconvene in Pauls Valley Thursday morning.

Being recalled to make themselves available for testimony before the jury are the five petitioners in the case — two of Horton’s sons, Pat and Matt Horton, and family friends Raymond Bazor, Karen Bazor and Shannon Kile. The five successfully petitioned to have the grand jury convened in the first place. The grand jury was initially seated in September.

Although no witness subpoena was issued, Brenda Petty, a certified forensic document examiner, also described as a handwriting analyst, is expected to accompany the petitioners and be available to testify on a report and exhibits she prepared for the case.

It’s believed subpoenas have also been issued for at least four other witnesses.

The case revolves around Tom Horton, who was found dead in his Wynnewood home in December 2008 from a shotgun blast to his chest. After the cause of his death was officially ruled a suicide, his sons and friends initiated a petition drive that led to the grand jury investigation.

Jurors and two prosecutors serving as advisers initially met during a four-day stretch in late September with testimony believed to have come from family and friends of Horton.

About a month ago the grand jury reconvened with testimony at that time believed to have come from “experts” in such areas as ballistics, handwriting and blood spatter.

A short time later all indications pointed toward testimony closing for this case and the jury accepting a state’s request to look into an unrelated drug case.

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