GUILTY OK - Brandon Duran, 32, found dismembered, Elmore City, 7 Aug 2012

[BlithePlum]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Body-of-dismembered-man-found-in-Oklahoma-pond-3779601.php

http://paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/local/x543532323/Hammer-to-remain-locked-up

The small town of Elmore City is pretty shaken up over this gruesome murder.

A dismembered body was found Friday in several cement-filled buckets in a pond on property owned by the man suspected in the slaying, according to an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokeswoman.
OSBI spokeswoman Jessica Brown said Justin Hammer, 30, of Elmore City, helped authorities find the body, which is believed to be his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend.

Hammer faces a formal charge of first-degree murder with deliberate intent for killing Brandon Mark Duran on the night of Aug. 7 at Hammer’s rural residence northeast of Elmore City.

Of particular interest is this piece of information that I posted last year -- the suspect's brother was found floating in a pond in Garvin County in April 2011. I can tell you that tongues are wagging in the town with suspicions that his brother's disappearance and subsequent discovery of his body in a pond were possibly not as accidental as originally presumed.
Found Deceased OK - Bobby Jack Hammer Jr - 31 years old - Garvin County - 22-Mar-2011 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[BlithePlum]

Article from a local paper with more details: http://paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/local/x1040818932/Murder-case-offers-gory-details

It names one of the witnesses (I'm guessing it's the one who came forward) and he describes in some detail the state of the inside of the home after the murder.

I know all the people involved except for the girlfriend and the victim. Not very well, but in the way that you know people in a small town when you all go to the same school from kindergarten through 12th grade and half the town is related. My heart goes out to everyone who is hurting right now and I know it's a lot of people.

There are comments on a number of different news sites suggesting that the girlfriend may be involved in some way. As of right now she has not be charged with anything. There is some talk of "satan worship" but I don't know of any information to substantiate those claims.

For some background:
August 2007 (no date on the page, but you can find it by searching his name on the site)
Police investigate Elmore City shooting - this isn't the first time Hammer has shot someone at his home http://www.kten.com/story/6840411/garvin-county-officials-investigating-elmore-city-shooting

March 2007
Hammer arrested in drug bust, along with the man he later shot in August 2007 http://paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/local/x519201786/Routine-call-nets-drug-bust/print

 

[Sonya610]

Weird case. The guys brain must be drug addled.

He came up with a good way of disposing of the body and then he tells people about it?

 

[Filly]

Blithe I am so sorry such evil took place close to where you live.

Here's a page for Mr. Duran.




http://www.facebook.com/events/351063814976093/


Also could it be they were into slasher stuff as opposed to Satanism? I found a link which now after Mr. Duran's death is way shocking.

 

[Filly]

Here it is. Mr. Duran was asking about special effects like in the film "Saw"



http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1161268

 

[BlithePlum]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Hearing-delayed-in-Oklahoma-dismemberment-death-3846711.php
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Okla-man-claims-self-defense-in-slaying-3829781.php

Oh boy, Irven Box is on the case. Seems like he always ends up with the crazy, high profile ones.

 

[BlithePlum]

Here it is. Mr. Duran was asking about special effects like in the film "Saw"



http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/8/1161268

Since he was talking about visual effects (adding a sort of crackling look to the film) instead of something related to blood and gore, I'm going to say it's less shocking that it might appear at first glance, but great catch. I never would have found that.

 

[BlithePlum]

http://newsok.com/hearing-set-for-oklahoma-man-in-dismemberment-death/article/3759827

According to this article, the hearing is set to start today in Garvin County.

 

[BlithePlum]

More details come in grisly murder
http://paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/local/x657742677/More-details-come-in-grisly-murder

Quite a few more details here from witness testimonies. I'm really glad these people were compelled to come forward and share what they know. I imagine that this will be pretty open and shut.

 

[BlithePlum]

Formal arraignment set for April 26.

 

[BlithePlum]

Arraignment postponed as his defense attorney is stepping down.

http://paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/local/x240787776/Murder-trial-to-wait-for-now

 

[BlithePlum]

A new defense attorney has been appointed. They'll be back in court on Aug 2 to schedule a trial date.

http://paulsvalleydailydemocrat.com/local/x1952114130/Murder-case-gets-new-defense-lead

 

[BlithePlum]

Trial date set for April

http://www.kten.com/story/23558510/...set-for-murder-trial-alleged-of-dismemberment

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.okcfox.com/story/25900076/justin-hammer-to-go-on-trial-for-gruesome-murder

The man accused in a high-profile case is set for trial Monday morning. Justin Hammer is charged with the 2012 murder of Brandon Duran in Elmore City. This case is expected to last up to three weeks. Those following the case think it could get interesting.

"I think everybody involved is taking steps to make sure it doesn't become a circus-type atmosphere," Shannon Kile, a reporter for the Wynnewood Gazette, said.

Kile has been following every development in this case. He understands there will be extra security at the Garvin County courthouse for this trial. He said people will need special permission to attend.

 

[OkieGranny]

Details of testimony from several witnesses:

http://www.gcnews-star.com/testimony-in-hammer-trial-turns-emotional/

According to Emblom it didn’t take long for the evening to take a grisly turn as he testified that Hammer immediately asked for his assistance. “He said ‘I shot [Duran] and cut him up and you are going to help me get rid of it.” He thought Hammer was joking until he saw five sealed buckets with blood and cement running down the sides in Hammer’s living room sitting on a towel. “I started freaking out and I ran out of the house.”

During this time Emblom says that Hammer had started a fire and was burning a mop, chemical bottles, and some clothes. He also threw in a motorcycle helmet believed to belong to Duran.

Emblom also testified that during this time Hammer was “cool, calm, and collected” which scared Emblom. “I just wanted to go home,” said Emblom, tears streaming again.

http://www.okcfox.com/story/2593982...-battles-as-elmore-city-murder-case-continues

As Duran's family sits through the testimony, they say it's hard but something they have to hear. Duran's family says harder to get through since they are also in the middle of a custody battle...

Wear has been called to testify in the trial. She was asked to explain what Duran, who is from California, was doing in Oklahoma when he died. She testified Duran came to Garvin County to reconcile with his ex-wife, Amber Andrews. "So he came out here and he never came back," she said.

The couple shared a son. Wear said Duran came to Oklahoma thinking they were going to reconcile and become a family again. Wear was caring for Duran's son up until two weeks ago, when Oklahoma DHS required the family to put him in custody of the state. He will stay in foster care as the case plays out and Andrews makes a case for custody. "Brandon and Justin Hammer never knew each other, so you have to wonder where's that person that's connecting them to make this happen," Duran's sister-in-law Aida Figueroa said.

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.okcfox.com/story/25977878/gruesome-details-as-justin-hammer-takes-stand-in-trial

The man accused in a graphic murder of a man in 2012 in Elmore City took the stand Wednesday and gave some grisly details of the crime...

On Wednesday, Hammer was questioned by his attorney and the state. During his time on the stand, Hammer admitted to shooting Duran twice and then detailed how he cut up and disposed of the body. Hammer said he shot Duran in the face with a shotgun and then was "practically on top of him" when he shot him in the head with a .22 pistol...

During cross examination, Hammer admitted that he knew what he should have done for a self-defense shooting because he had shot another guy before. In that 2007 incident Hammer said he shot a guy in the neck and then treated the wound as he called police. He was cleared in that case.

 

[OkieGranny]

Guilty of first-degree murder! Sentencing set for October.

http://www.kten.com/story/25992483/man-convicted-in-shootingdismemberment-murder-trial

While family members say Thursday's result was a step toward recovery, they believe Justin Hammer wasn't the only one involved. "One hundred percent," said Garrett. "In my heart, I know it."

"You know it's sort of a double-edged sword here though because we're still trying to get little Brando back," said Cyndi. Little Brando is Duran's son...

"The investigation is still ongoing of Amber Duran, Amber Andrews," said Austin. "And we will continue to look into her as a suspect in this case."

 

[OkieGranny]

http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/...-first-degree-murder-sentenced-278309591.html

An emotionless Justin Hammer was escorted out of Garvin County district court Monday, sentenced to life without parole...

Duran's mother, Cyndi Wear, says she believes there is more to the murder, and believes Hammer's ex-girlfriend, who is also Duran's ex-wife, was involved as well...

"People need to be taken to task for what they have done. Everybody in this bloody parade of terror needs to be taken to task," said Wear.

 

[wdmcmahan]

I remember when this happened, it was very bizarre. I personally knew the ex-wife. So sad for little Brando

 

[wdmcmahan]

Beandon Duran's x-wife Amber (my stepson's ex-wife) has been arrested. There was a shopping list in her handwriting containing items used in the murder, such as cement, buckets, saw blades and... a meat grinder which was also found at the residence of Amber and Justin Hammer This just makes me sick!!! Why did it take SO LONG for this arrest??? So sad for little Brando and the baby that Amber had since then!
http://www.okcfox.com/story/28833665/ex-wife-of-dismembered-murder-victim-arrested