Ex-cop could be paroled in ’82 Tulsa crossbow killing
BY Staff Reports
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —
The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole
Board will decide next
month whether a former police
officer who was convicted in
the 1982 crossbow slaying of a
Tulsa woman should be released
from prison.
The board voted last week to
approve the first phase of Jimmie
Dean Stohler’s request for
early release, records show. Because
Stohler was convicted of
a violent offense, a second
hearing will be required when
the board meets in February,
according to Terry Jenks, the
board’s director.
Stohler could be released if
the board approves the second
phase of the release process.
He was sentenced to life in
prison in the killing of Michele
Powers, who was shot in the
chest with a poisoned crossbow
bolt, or arrow, while she stood
in the parking lot at her apartment
complex. Powers died six
days later.
Stohler, 53, was the last of
three men to stand trial for
murder in the case and the only
one to be convicted. He told
prosecutors he recruited Jack
Ensminger Jr. to kill Powers
for $400 and supplied him with
the weapon.
Ensminger denied the allegation
and was acquitted. Another
former officer and close friend
of Stohler, Robert Doss, also
was acquitted in the crime.
Doss and Powers, an ex-girlfriend,
had a custody dispute
involving their son. Doss was
accused of plotting to kill Powers
because of this dispute.
Prosecutors and members of
the victim’s family will get to
speak to the board, Jenks said.
