TECUMSEH, OK – A Tecumseh man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to the killing of his wife, a case initially reported as a suicide but quickly unmasked as homicide by investigators.
Bradley Frye, the husband of Sara Frye, was arrested last September after police found evidence contradicting his claims that his wife’s death was self-inflicted. Authorities arrived at the couple’s home in Tecumseh following a distressing 911 call that reported a woman suffering from a gunshot wound.
Officers, equipped with body cameras, entered the residence to find Bradley Frye visibly distraught and attempting to resuscitate his wife. Despite his urgent pleas and attempts at CPR, Sara Frye succumbed to her injuries approximately 30 minutes after police arrived.
Investigators noted several inconsistencies at the scene. A pump-action shotgun was discovered lying behind Sara’s body, and medical examiners found her fatal facial wound had been packed with petroleum jelly. Officers also observed signs of a violent altercation, including a broken dining room table and overturned chairs, casting doubt on the initial narrative of suicide.
Court documents reveal that Frye initially insisted his wife had taken her own life after an argument. However, the physical evidence, combined with the results of forensic testing, pointed to foul play rather than self-harm.
Family members later told authorities they had concerns about the couple’s wellbeing. Sara’s father reported she was struggling with substance use and that Bradley was diagnosed with schizophrenia, prompting him to remove the couple’s four children from the home earlier that day for their safety.
Neighbors also recounted hearing frequent arguments from the Frye residence and said that shouting had intensified in the moments preceding the shooting. Investigators discovered Sara’s personal journal, where she expressed plans to leave her husband, citing ongoing mistreatment.
Bradley Frye was originally charged with first-degree murder, but eventually entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder earlier this May. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced him to life in prison, concluding a months-long investigation into the grim events that shook the quiet Tecumseh neighborhood.
Officials did not disclose further details about the children’s current situation, but family and community members have expressed hopes for their ongoing wellbeing in the wake of the tragedy.