On a cold February day in 1976, the Muskogee Police Department found themselves entangled in the investigation of two mysterious murders that occurred mere hours apart.
The first victim, Ethel Imogene Obucina, was a 58-year-old woman found shot in the face while seated in her own kitchen.
The shockwaves from her death had barely settled when the police discovered another body. Cecil Stretch, a 34-year-old man, was found lifeless in a creek south of Muskogee.
Mrs. Obucina's body was discovered by her son on February 15, 1976,
Only three hours after this tragic event, investigators stumbled upon Stretch's body in a nearby creek. Muskogee Police Captain Charles Bounds reported that, despite no apparent connection between Obucina and Stretch, the proximity and timing of the murders raised unsettling questions.
Both had been shot with small caliber weapons within a few short hours of each other, leaving officers with unanswered questions.
The search for the culprit led police to the small town of Warner, 15 miles from Muskogee. However, despite their efforts, no one was ever charged in connection with Obucina’s death. The identity of the suspect and any potential motives behind these tragic events remain shrouded in mystery.
Today, the case remains open and is classified as cold, with the Muskogee Police and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation still searching for new information.
For those who might hold even the smallest clue to solving these crimes, the OSBI urges you to come forward. Any piece of information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could be the key to finally unlocking the truth behind the murder of Ethel Imogene Obucina.
You can contact the OSBI at 1-800-522-8017.
