Scene - Blogs - Girl Scout murders movie and investigation

Girl Scout murders: movie and investigation
Published: 7/11/2011 3:45 PM
Last Modified: 7/11/2011 3:57 PM

Gene Leroy Hart, March 1979

Four weeks after the Tulsa World broke the story of a planned movie in which a screenwriter claims he will solve the murders of three Girl Scouts in Mayes County in 1977, the story has expanded in interest to national media.

That means the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, which led the original search for a killer in this case, has been receiving a lot of phone calls asking: Are you still on the case?

They are, as OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown confirmed to me that the agency's director, Stan Florence, has spoken with the filmmaker.

John Russell Penn, the screenwriter and an ex-con, confirmed to me that he gave Florence the name of the man he says confessed the crime to him in prison.

On Monday, the OSBI issued the following advisory:

"Over the past several weeks, the OSBI has received numerous phone calls from media asking about the bureau's reaction to recent news of a film and book on the Girl Scouts murder case.
"The OSBI's comments are as follows: The OSBI continues to investigate the 1977 Girl Scouts murder case due to the acquittal of the main suspect. We urge anyone with information that would help progress the case to call the bureau at 1-800-522-8017.
"The murder of the three young girls has always weighed heavy on the hearts of Oklahomans. Agents will continue to aggressively investigate any lead that could provide answers for the victims' families."

Reader Comments

3 Total

Show: Newest First

Learn About Our Comment Policy

Jestee (last year)

They are going to have to acknowledge that they accused the wrong man.

fka (last year)

Unfortunately, just like with Casey Anthony, the proof is in the pudding. Knowing who did it and proving it are 2 separate and different issues.

myopinion (last year)

Gene Leroy Hart never did it...He was framed and the jury knew it.

3 comments displayed

To post comments on tulsaworld.com, you must be an active Tulsa World print or digital subscriber and signed into your account.

To sign in to your account, go to tulsaworld.com/signin.
To activate your print subscription for unlimited digital access and to post comments, go to tulsaworld.com/activate.
To purchase a subscription, go to tulsaworld.com/subscribe.

I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

Follow Michael Smith on Twitter

Subscribe to this blog

Archive

Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

Michael Smith's Blog Archive:

2/2013	1/2013	12/2012	11/2012	10/2012	9/2012
8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
2/2012	1/2012	12/2011	11/2011	10/2011	9/2011
8/2011	7/2011	6/2011	5/2011	4/2011	3/2011
2/2011	1/2011	12/2010	11/2010	10/2010	9/2010
8/2010	7/2010	6/2010	5/2010	4/2010	3/2010
2/2010	1/2010	12/2009	11/2009	10/2009	9/2009
8/2009	7/2009	6/2009	5/2009	4/2009	3/2009
2/2009	1/2009	12/2008	11/2008	10/2008	9/2008
8/2008	7/2008	6/2008	5/2008	4/2008	3/2008
2/2008	1/2008	12/2007	11/2007	10/2007	9/2007
8/2007	7/2007	6/2007

michaelsmithTW
michaelsmithTW

Join the conversation

Your bookmark will appear on your Profile page. Please give it a title, and short description so that visitors to your page will understand where the bookmark leads.
Bookmark Title :

Bookmark Text :