Jamison family deaths

The Jamison family from Eufaula, Oklahoma, United States,^[1] consisting of father Bobby Dale Jamison,^[2] mother Sherilynn Leighann Jamison,^[3] and daughter Madyson Stormy Star Jamison,^[4] mysteriously disappeared on October 8, 2009.^[1] The family was reportedly looking to purchase a forty-acre plot of land near Red Oak, Oklahoma, about thirty miles from Eufaula, at the time of their disappearance.^[5] Their suspected remains were found on November 15–16, 2013, and were positively identified by the Oklahoma medical examiner on July 3, 2014. No cause of death was determined, and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain unanswered.^[6]

Disappearance

The initial investigation into the Jamison family's disappearance indicated that they had probably not vanished of their own accord. The Jamisons' pickup truck was discovered within a few days, abandoned in Latimer County, Oklahoma, a short distance south of the town of Kinta.^[7] The Jamisons' bodies were not found, but their dog was still in the truck malnourished after days of going without food or water. Police also discovered their IDs, wallets, mobile phones, a GPS system, and about $32,000 in cash.^[5] The Jamisons were known for carrying large amounts of cash with them.^[1]

Several theories emerged about the family's disappearance, such as that they had faked their own deaths, were in a witness protection program, were killed, or had committed group suicide.^[8] Shortly before the disappearance, Bobby Jamison was involved in a bitter lawsuit with his father. Bobby reported that his father, Bobby Dean Jamison, had threatened him and his family, but police do not believe that Bobby's father was involved in the family's disappearance.^[8]

Another popular theory was that the Jamisons were involved in drugs and drug dealing. Investigators cited the large amount of cash found in the Jamisons' truck, and the apparent strange behavior exhibited by Bobby and Sherilynn Jamison shortly before they went missing.^[9] Bobby and Sherilynn had reportedly told their pastor on separate occasions that they had seen spirits inside of their home.^[9] Sherilynn's mother, Connie Kokotan, believes that the family were killed by members of a violent cult. She has also firmly denied that the Jamisons were involved in drugs or witchcraft.^[10]

Discovery

The skeletal remains of two adults and one child were discovered by two hunters in a remote spot on November 15–16, 2013, more than four years after the family went missing,^[11] and less than three miles away from where the family's pickup truck had been abandoned.

The remains were widely presumed to be those of the missing family, though the Oklahoma medical examiner's office needed to use anthropological and forensic pathological testing to identify them. Officials confirmed on July 3, 2014 that the remains belonged to the missing Jamison family. A cause of death was not determined due to the heavily decomposed state of the bodies.^[7]

There are several similarities between the McStay family murder and this case. In both cases, an entire family vanished and was found dead miles away from their abandoned vehicle. Neither vehicle showed any sign of a struggle. Both families were not reported missing until several days after they vanished.

In the media

The Jamison family disappearance was profiled on the Investigation Discovery series Disappeared in late 2010, in an episode entitled "Paradise Lost".^[12]

See also

• McStay Family Murder

References