Authorities in Tulsa have arrested a 25-year-old man after the suspicious death of an 88-year-old resident inside a home Wednesday morning. What initially appeared to be a natural death quickly turned into a homicide investigation after officers noticed troubling signs at the scene.
According to the Tulsa Police Department, officers responded to a residence near Latimer Street and North Gary Place at approximately 8:30 a.m. on March 11, 2026, following a report of a death. When officers arrived, they found the victim, identified as Steven Norman, unresponsive inside the home.
Police said Norman had several serious health issues, including terminal cancer, which initially led some to believe his death may have been related to his medical condition. However, responding officers carefully examined the scene and quickly noticed suspicious marks and injuries around the victim’s neck that appeared consistent with strangulation.
Due to those observations, detectives and crime scene investigators were called to the residence. Investigators soon determined that the physical evidence at the scene did not match the explanations initially provided by people inside the home. Detectives began treating the death as suspicious, noting it could have been either a staged suicide or a possible homicide.
Throughout the day, investigators conducted detailed interviews with witnesses at the department’s detective division. The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of Jacob Dake, 25. Police say Dake first told investigators the incident was accidental, but later admitted that he intentionally killed Norman. According to investigators, Dake claimed he acted to “put him out of his misery” due to the victim’s terminal illness.
Dake was arrested and booked into jail on a charge of first-degree murder. Authorities also noted that because Dake is a tribal member, the case falls under the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling. As a result, detectives will turn the case over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and tribal authorities for further investigation as the legal process continues.
