𝗢𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀
❤️𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲'𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 — 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘆, 𝟭𝟵𝟮𝟴

On most Valentine’s Days, hearts are won with flowers, candy, and promises. But in the late summer of 1928, one young outlaw tried to steal something far more dangerous — a fortune — believing money could secure the heart he feared he might lose. At high noon on August 28, 1928, the quiet oil town of Shidler, Oklahoma, was anything but romantic. The Shidler National Bank — already familiar with robbery — was struck again.

Inside, cashier Harold Bobbitt and employee Mrs. R.J. Rust found themselves staring down the barrels of revolvers as two well-dressed men entered with chilling calm. There were no love letters that day — only commands. In less than two minutes, the bandits seized $4,126.00 and fled, kidnapping Bobbitt to buy themselves time. Mrs. Rust was warned that if the alarm sounded within fifteen minutes, the cashier would pay with his life.

The getaway car roared north toward Kansas, leaving behind stunned townsfolk who had been enjoying lunch less than a hundred feet away — unaware that daylight crime had just unfolded beside them.

𝗔 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — 𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻?

The manhunt that followed eventually led investigators to one of the robbers: Carl Stinnett. His capture revealed a motive as old as time — misguided love. At the center of the story was Tess Sizemore, a young Kansas City beauty who tearfully admitted she was the reason for Stinnett’s descent into crime.

“𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦,” she said.

Fearing she might return to a former sweetheart, Stinnett attempted the ultimate grand gesture — not with roses, but with stolen cash. Investigators later learned the robbery money had been spent on fine clothes and expensive gifts.

It was proof of a hard truth repeated throughout history:

Love may be blind… but the law is not.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱

Sheriff Ben McDonald, Undersheriff Arthur Graves, and their deputies refused to let the crime become a happily-ever-after for the outlaws.

Stinnett eventually stood before the Osage County District Court in Pawhuska and pleaded guilty. His attempt to purchase affection instead purchased him a one-way trip into the custody of the state.

By then, two robbers had been brought to justice. One remained at large.

❤️ 𝗔 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

The Shidler robbery endures as one of Osage County’s most dramatic crimes — a reminder that desperation dressed as romance has led many men down the wrong road.

Because while love is worth pursuing…

it has never been worth stealing for. … See MoreSee Less

𝐎𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧

𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗺𝘆 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗞𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗴 has accepted a plea deal on multiple felony charges following a comprehensive criminal investigation and successful prosecution.

The defendant was charged with of six counts of Lewd Molestation, First-Degree Rape of a victim under 14, Forcible Sodomy, and Lewd or Indecent Acts to a Child Under 16.

The plea deal will send Fridenberg to 25 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections on seven counts and 20 years on two counts, in addition to court costs, incarceration fees, a Victim Compensation Assessment, and a fine. Formal sentencing will happen at a later date.

This case reflects the continued commitment of the Osage County Sheriff’s Office to protect the most vulnerable members of our community and hold offenders accountable.

Sheriff Bart Perrier recognizes Investigator Samantha Cornett for her diligent investigative work and commends the Osage County District Attorney’s Office — including First Assistant District Attorney Brett Mize and Assistant District Attorney Tara Jack — for their professionalism and dedication in securing this conviction.

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘴.”
-𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘧 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳 … See MoreSee Less

𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘

𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟳, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗝𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗜𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆

AVANT, OK — The Osage County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a tragic incident that claimed the lives of two juvenile boys, ages 8 and 9, after they fell through the ice on Bird Creek Saturday.

At approximately 7:13 p.m., the Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting that residents and first responders had located the first victim in the water near the bank of Bird Creek in Avant. The child was immediately removed from the water, and lifesaving measures were initiated. Despite those efforts, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Search efforts quickly intensified for the second juvenile, leading responders to an area of broken ice on a large section of the creek. Dozens of emergency personnel worked for several hours utilizing ground teams, aerial drones, a specialized rescue boat, and dive teams. At approximately 11:30 p.m., the second victim was located and recovered.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the entire Avant community during this unimaginable loss. Incidents involving children are among the most difficult situations first responders face, and this tragedy has deeply impacted everyone involved.

We are profoundly grateful to the many agencies that responded with urgency and professionalism. Special thanks are extended to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Underwater Recovery Team, Tulsa Fire Department’s Oklahoma Task Force One Search and Rescue Team, Avant, Skiatook, and Barnsdall Fire Departments, Survival Flight EMS, and the numerous additional responders who assisted throughout the night.

As winter conditions continue, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office urges the public to avoid walking, playing, or operating vehicles on frozen bodies of water. Ice conditions can be unpredictable and extremely dangerous, even when they appear solid.

This remains an active investigation. … See MoreSee Less

Here are the monthly stats for January! … See MoreSee Less