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Cold Case Files: Christmas Eve murder of 54-year-old Idabel resident Donna Len Gill nearly 24-years cold

Writer's picture: Dennis McCaslinDennis McCaslin

On Christmas Day in 2000, the town of Idabel in McCurtain County was rocked by a brutal and tragic Christmas Eve crime that remains unsolved to this day.


Donna Len Gill, a 54-year-old resident, was found murdered in her home, her throat brutally slit. The discovery of her body on December 25th marked the beginning of a haunting cold case that continues to perplex investigators and haunt the community.


Gill was found dead in her Idabel home on Christmas Day, 2000. Authorities believe she was killed the day before, on Christmas Eve. The gruesome nature of her murder, with her throat slit, shocked the small town and left residents in fear and mourning.


The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) was called in to assist with the investigation. Despite their efforts, the case presented numerous challenges from the outset. T

here were no immediate leads or suspects, and the motive behind the attack remained unclear. Gill, born in Dallas and known by her maiden name Williams, had been married twice and had children.


In the ensuing years, , the case of Donna Len Gill's murder remained cold. Despite periodic reviews and renewed efforts by law enforcement, no significant breakthroughs were made.


In 2019, the OSBI started another round of investigations in the case, reaching out to the public by utilizing both media and issuing a playing card with the details of her death in packs that were provided to state and county detention centers.


Gills's mother, Helen Williams, died in 2003 and her only sister, Patricia (a US Army nurse who served in Vietnam) died less than three months after the murder.


The OSBI Cold Case Unit continues to hold the case in contemporary status, hoping that new evidence or information might eventually come to light.


The OSBI urges anyone with information about the case to come forward. Tips can be submitted by contacting the OSBI at 800-522-8017.


Any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial in solving this case.


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