Saturday, October 1, 2011

El Reno, OK: Wife charged with murder in fire chief's death

Updated 04:29 p.m., Friday, September 30, 2011
EL RENO, Okla. (AP) — The wife of a suburban Oklahoma City fire department chief shot in the head pleaded not guilty Friday to first-degree murder in his death.

Clad in an orange-and-white jail uniform and shackled, Becky Bryan slowly walked through the courtroom and mouthed, "I love you," to one of her sons, The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/nQaoXz) reported. Bryan, 52, was arrested a week ago in the death of her husband, Keith Bryan.

Keith Bryan, chief of the Nichols Hills Fire Department, was found dead Sept. 20 in his home in Mustang.

Bryan told police an intruder shot her 52-year-old husband and fled in a pickup truck, authorities said.

She was arrested after investigators found a gun and other items in a clothes dryer in her house and a handgun box between the mattress and box spring on what investigators said appeared to be her side of the bed.

Prosecutor Paul Hesse asked that Bryan be held in the Canadian County jail without bond.

Her attorney, Gary James, said a bond request would be filed at a later date. Bryan's next court date was set for Nov. 4.

"They've got to prove we did it," James told reporters after the hearing. "You've probably seen 2 percent of the evidence in this case. Reserve judgment."

Bryan waved to one of her sons as she left the courtroom. Her family has been supportive and has visited her, James said.

Hesse declined to comment on the case.

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