Coweta, OK: Judge denies bail to Coweta woman charged with murder in her husband's death

WAGONER - A Coweta woman who is accused of killing her husband nearly seven months ago must remain in jail as the case against her progresses, a judge ruled Friday.

District Judge Darrell Shepherd denied bail for Patricia Burney, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Arthur Burney, 53, who was found dead Feb. 18 in a barn at his Coweta home.

The Burneys' daughter, Michelle Burney, 15, and her boyfriend, Michael Richardson, 18, also were charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting. Richardson is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.

Michelle Burney's adult charge was dismissed this summer and refiled in juvenile court. The teenager has pleaded guilty to the murder charge and has been placed in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, Assistant District Attorney Jack Thorp indicated Friday.

At Friday's bond hearing, Patricia Burney's attorney, Allen Smallwood, called two witnesses - her mother, Ruth Barnes, 76, and stepfather, Billy Barnes, 79. Both said they were limited physically and that it would help to have Patricia Burney around to do household chores such as vacuuming and mowing the lawn.

Shepherd said he denied the defendant's motion for bail based on the strength of the state's case, which he reviewed by reading the transcript of her preliminary hearing.

At that hearing, Richardson had testified that he fatally shot Arthur Burney and that Patricia Burney gave him the rifle he used in the killing.

Richardson also testified that Patricia and Michelle Burney drove him from Oklahoma City and offered him as much as $6,000 to kill Arthur Burney.

After handing Richardson the rifle, Patricia Burney told her daughter to take him out back for some practice shots, he testified.

He then waited in a tack room in the barn and shot Arthur Burney, his testimony indicated. Patricia Burney later promised him the entire $6,000 for the slaying, but he never collected the money, he told the court.

In preliminary hearing testimony June 7, Michelle Burney testified that her mother wanted to kill Arthur Burney because he was verbally abusive and was "always mean to my mom."

The teenager said her mother "wanted him dead."