The Owasso Police Department has released additional information connecting last week’s apparent murder-suicide investigation to an earlier criminal investigation involving the suspect.
According to police, the initial investigation began on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, when a juvenile and a parent reported a sex crime at Owasso Police Headquarters. Investigators say the incident occurred about an hour earlier at an elementary school located at 1500 N. Ash Street, where a traveling competitive basketball team was using the gymnasium during a rental event.
Detectives identified the suspect as 48-year-old Jeremiah Shawn Duffey, who was coaching the team. Police allege Duffey inappropriately touched a juvenile female player inside the school during the event. During the investigation, authorities learned similar conduct involving the same juvenile had allegedly occurred over an extended period and in multiple law enforcement jurisdictions across several states.
Police emphasized that the basketball team was not affiliated with Owasso Public Schools, and Duffey had no connection to the school district. The team was simply renting the facility while school was not in session.
Investigators said another coach witnessed the incident, immediately intervened, and notified the girl’s parent. After the parent arrived to pick up the child, they went directly to the Owasso Police Department to report what had happened.
By the time officers began investigating, Duffey had already left the scene and was not located.
Police contacted Duffey’s wife following the incident and provided her with information about obtaining an emergency protective order through the Tulsa County Courthouse.
During the investigation, detectives also determined Duffey was a member of the Osage Nation. Because both the suspect and the reported offense fell under federal jurisdiction in Indian Country, the case was classified as a major crime under the Federal Major Crimes Act. The investigation into the alleged lewd molestation of a minor was forwarded to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, ending the Owasso Police Department’s jurisdiction over that case.
More than six weeks later, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at approximately 11:16 p.m., Owasso Police officers responded to a reported domestic violence incident at a home in the 12300 block of North 130th East Avenue within the City of Collinsville but in Owasso police jurisdiction .
According to investigators, dispatchers received a 911 call from the residence during which they heard a woman screaming, followed moments later by what sounded like a gunshot. Attempts to reestablish contact were unsuccessful.
A short time later, a juvenile called 911 from a nearby neighbor’s home and reported that his stepfather had shot his mother.
Officers arrived within minutes and entered the residence, where they found Jeremiah Shawn Duffey and 43-year-old Sara Jane Duffey dead from apparent gunshot wounds to the head.
The investigation remains ongoing, but detectives believe the case was a murder-suicide.
The juvenile who made the 911 call was taken into protective custody before later being released to an uninvolved parent.
As investigators continued their work, they confirmed that Sara Jane Duffey had been granted a protective order against Jeremiah Shawn Duffey following the June investigation. Police said there were no reports of Duffey violating that protective order prior to the events of July 23.
The Owasso Police Department said the investigation remains active and noted that additional information may be released as it becomes available. Officials also stated they may be unable to answer specific questions while the investigation continues.
