OK - Donald 'Joe' Neff, 61, Poteau, 14 May 2009 - #1

[smart blonde]

missingmydad... just a quick note to let you know my heart goes out to you. I lost my own dad unexpectedly in 2007, and the pain still comes to me sometimes as fresh as if it happened yesterday.

You came to the right place, here at Websleuths. One would be hard pressed to find more dedicated and compassionate people - now friends- anywhere.

All the best to you. May this new year bring the answers and justice you are seeking, and deserve.

 

[momtective]

oh i forgot, dad went missing thursday 14th, on friday we had looked all day and met back at house to update each other where we had searhed. we were all talking and decided that we should check this one room that he always kept locked. the le did check the house on thurs but since that room was never unlocked and the house was in perfect order we assumed that the only crime was at the bar. at this time we still did not know he was dead, we thought maybe he was just hurt somewhere. so fri we busted in door to find safe open. so we called le back out there again

This has probably already been said but don't you find it strange that whoever took the money from the safe, locked the door back before leaving?:waitasec:

 

[Vegas Bride]

This has probably already been said but don't you find it strange that whoever took the money from the safe, locked the door back before leaving?:waitasec:

If whoever took money from the safe took the time to lock the door, wouldn't they also take the time to close the safe?
That's why I think it was actually Joe who had been in the safe and felt everything was fine in leaving it open since the door was going to be locked.

I hope you're able to find out soon who is responsible for this.

VB

 

[amysmom]

missingmydad..so sorry for your loss & I totally understand your frustration with the lack of progress by LE..This new Task Force sounds promising but what about you/family hiring a PI? If there's any way to possibly afford it this route may (hopefully) turn out to be well worth it.

All the $$ left behind by the perp(s) seriously baffles me..Even if the motive wasn't robbery I'd still expect it to be taken..Just because they could..KWIM?

 

[missingmydad]

Missingmydad,

How are you doing?

I have been better. I am just proud that the holidays are over. Still no news, if you can believe it. I am not sure how it can be any more depressing than this. Thank you all, I will try to get back on here very soon and catch up.

 

[Kimster]

I have been better. I am just proud that the holidays are over. Still no news, if you can believe it. I am not sure how it can be any more depressing than this. Thank you all, I will try to get back on here very soon and catch up.

It was great hearing from you and we look forward to when you can spend more time here again! :blowkiss:

 

[amysmom]

I have been better. I am just proud that the holidays are over. Still no news, if you can believe it. I am not sure how it can be any more depressing than this. Thank you all, I will try to get back on here very soon and catch up.

bbm

Have you contacted any of the local media that reported on your dad's case? They usually have info (or suspect things) they can't print cos it's not fact (yet) & for other obvious reasons..Someone may be willing to talk to you..It can't hurt to try.

It must be beyond frustrating/depressing but keep hanging in there..You have to know it's what your dad would want..Hope to see you back here soon!

 

[Roselvr]

Sending lots of cyber hugs..

.

 

[Noway]

If money is missing from the safe, and it sounds it's possible that Joe opened the safe in the morning but locked the door when he left, is it possible that the killer took the money from Joe but didn't bother with what was in Joe's pocket?

Just thinking that they didn't necessarily go back to the house at all. Because there was no evidence that anyone broke into the house and the house itself was in order.

 

[RR0004]

Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Stay strong!

 

[Isabella]

I have been better. I am just proud that the holidays are over. Still no news, if you can believe it. I am not sure how it can be any more depressing than this. Thank you all, I will try to get back on here very soon and catch up.

I dont understand to be honest. Ive only just found your thread but firstly i want to say im sorry about what was done to your dad Secondly i want to say i think its just wrong that the police wont tell your family more. He was your dad and IMO you have a right to know far more about the case than you do

 

[Noway]

I'm working on a compilation of all that is in this thread so far (big thank you for all of you posting information).

I'll post the compilation below ... but please do not quote the post in its entirety only because things may change (am only on page 8 of thread as far as creating this). I need to run out for a bit, but thought it might be helpful in the meanwhile.

If you want to comment about an entry, copy and paste just that part. If you seen something that is just wrong, please let me know. TIA


ETA: Finished going through the thread. I think I caught points of interest so far. Let me know if I missed something.

 

[Noway]

Summary
On May 14, a regular customer (who always comes a little earlier than they open) finds Joe Neff’s bar, Long Branch Saloon in Poteau, OK (LeFlore County), open but nobody there. Joe’s black Tahoe was outside the bar with keys in vehicle ignition (which he always did). There are signs of a struggle and injury (large amount of blood and Joe's cowboy hat and cigarette lighter on floor). Joe's girlfriend then arrives for her regular shift and they call 911. His body was found 2 days later in Pocola (12 miles north) in a strip pit (left from strip mining then filled with water and stocked with fish); he had died of a gunshot wound. He possibly was bound. His cell phone has never been recovered (got court order; had not pinged that day; probably already under water). Joe’s wallet was found on his body; $740 cash in his shirt pocket. (Described as “an ATM for many” and “he did always carry money in his shirt pocket too and it was not strange to carry that much.”

Joe’s Routines
Opened the bar every day Monday-Saturday (not sure about this need to verify). The time he arrived varied. He did lock the door (deadbolt lock) the second he walked in and left keys hanging in it. When employee got there, he would open door, let them in, and lock it right back. [url="http://websleuths.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4490151&postcount=281"]Source[/url]

On Sundays, he drove his jeep around the hills.

Reward Offered
The family has setup a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of his killer. Anyone with information is asked to call the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations at 1-800-522-8017 or the LeFlore County Sheriff's Department at 918-647-2317. The family said all calls will be kept confidential. http://www.4029tv.com/news/21108591/detail.html#

Long Branch Saloon
Located about a mile outside Poteau city limits off Highway 59 (68155 Highway 59, Poteau, OK). Photo Directions to the bar.

Timeline
THURSDAY
May 14, 2009, 7:00 a.m. – Joe, age 61, last seen at his house by girlfriend. She leaves to go to work (before coming to bar for her shift at noon). Daughter’s husband sees girlfriend leaving house on his way to work.
May 14, 2009, 10:30 a.m. – Joe seen in local stores (paid his water bill and bought a part for at Napa store)
May 14, 2009, 11:20-11:40 – Some kind of altercation occurs. http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2009/05/16/news/news051609_04.txt
May 14, 2009, 11:45 a.m. – Joe is discovered missing from bar.

FRIDAY
May 15, 2009 – LE performs ground search and spends time at Joe’s home but house is in order. (House is about 3 minutes from the bar; there is no blood in house.)

SATURDAY
May 16, 2009 – Family searches areas and regroups at Joe’s house. Joe’s family discovers that his home safe (standup safe with combination and key) was left open and that was unusual. Thousands of dollars had been taken from the safe. http://www.4029tv.com/news/19482132/detail.html His home safe had been opened with thousands of dollars suspected missing, but thousands more still present. Later, when Neff’s body was pulled from the mining strip, Curnett watched as $740 was removed from his shirt pocket. http://www.newsok.com/article/3421922?searched=rilee#ixzz0bRBLxbUk

SUNDAY
May 17, 2009, 4 p.m. – Two fishermen find Joe in a strip pit off Davis Road in neighboring Pocola. LeFlore county officials said Neff died as a result of a gunshot wound. http://www.4029tv.com/news/21108591/detail.html OSBI officials say he had been in the water a couple of days. http://www.4029tv.com/news/19488490/detail.html

May 26, 2009 – Joe’s funeral.

November 7, 2009 – Law enforcement brings in 2 FBI agents, 2 U.S. Marshalls and 2 more OSBI (MissingMyDad, # 1)

People
Law Enforcement/Legal
Bruce Curnutt – LeFlore County Sheriff. Believes at least two men are responsible because Joe was a strong, stout man and it would have taken at least two men to get him from bar and dispose of his body. He also believes that these people are local or lived in area at one time because of the area Joe was found. http://newsok.com/poteau-bar-owners-slaying-haunts-family/article/3377641

Cherokee Ballard – State medical examiner spokeswoman who stated that Joe died of “a gunshot wound to the head.” http://newsok.com/poteau-bar-owners-slaying-haunts-family/article/3377641

Donnie Edwards – LeFlore County Undersheriff called to Long Branch Saloon along with Sheriff Bruce Curnutt when Joe was reported missing. http://www.poteaudailynews.com/content/view/141810/

Jessica Brown – OSBI spokesperson. http://www.swtimes.com/articles/2009/05/16/news/news051609_04.txt

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation – OSBI; working on case. Created cold case unit. OSBI Agent in Charge Gary Perkinson will supervise the new unit.

Task Force – Developed to look at cases of Joe Neff and Jody Rilee-Wilson. http://www.poteaudailynews.com/cont...ww.poteaudailynews.com/content/view/167750/1/ Curnutt and the new task force will meet Friday for the first time since forming and exchanging notes last month. http://www.newsok.com/article/3421922?searched=rilee#ixzz0bRArNJTj

Family
Joe’s siblings – Billy, Barbara, Tom, Jerry. http://evansfuneralhomes.blogspot.com/2009/05/joe-neff.html

Jon and Carla S. – Joe’s son and daughter-in-law. http://evansfuneralhomes.blogspot.com/2009/05/joe-neff.html

Marie and Eugene P. – Joe’s older daughter and son-in-law. http://newsok.com/poteau-bar-owners-slaying-haunts-family/article/3377641 and http://evansfuneralhomes.blogspot.com/2009/05/joe-neff.html Husband rented plane to search for Joe.

Ron S. – Joe’s nephew. Joe’s nephews scoured miles of land near Lake Wister on four-wheelers, looking for possible clues and eliminating areas.http://www.4029tv.com/news/19482132/detail.html

Shawna and Donny M. – Joe’s younger daughter and son-in-law. http://newsok.com/poteau-bar-owners-slaying-haunts-family/article/3377641 and http://evansfuneralhomes.blogspot.com/2009/05/joe-neff.html

Shirley N. – Joe’s ex-wife. http://evansfuneralhomes.blogspot.com/2009/05/joe-neff.html

Friends
Chipper Klutts – Joe’s childhood friends; said Neff was well liked in the community. “You couldn't find anybody who could hate him," Klutts said. "There's nothing to hate about him. He was just a super nice guy. http://www.4029tv.com/news/19467846/detail.html

Girlfriend – (Name not mentioned in mainstream media) Moved to area a couple of years ago. Dating Joe for about the last year. Did not live with Joe, but did stay over at times. Works at bar. Her family was from there at one point but she has lived all over. (MissingMyDad, #104) Described as about 5 feet tall and less than 100 pounds (MissingMyDad, #155)

J. Parker – Friend who said Joe was the best man you could ever know; someone who would do anything for anybody.

Other
Melvin S. – Owner of property (15_ _ South Davis, Pocola, OK 74902) where Joe’s body was found. He lives by the entrance and sees everyone going by. It’s not visible from the road, so if you didn’t know it was there, you couldn’t see it. Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Joe Neff (my dad) unsolved murder 14 May 2009 -no leads

Maps
Map of area where Joe was found (MysticRose)

Map of other LeFore cases (Roselvr)

Other Information (may not be related to Joe's case)
Body of missing woman found. The body of Dusty Nichole Loggains was recovered September 4 south of Hodgen along the side of Highway 59 not far from the cabin where her car and other belongings had been located.

Eastern Oklahoma Investments, Inc. Joe’s business.

Joe’s obituary as seen on Evans and Miller Funeral Home website and on Southwest Times

LE looking for older model red import truck http://www.4029tv.com/news/19475932/detail.html In addition, officials are also looking for an older model Toyota or Nissan red pickup thought to be in connection with the crime. http://www.poteaudailynews.com/content/view/141810/

Missing Jamison family (lived 50 miles away; truck found about 30 minutes away) http://www.missingkids.com/missingk...NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

Weather at time of murder. Raining in days before and after Joe’s murder; sunny the day of.

Possible routes from bar to place where Joe was found. Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community - View Single Post - Joe Neff (my dad) unsolved murder 14 May 2009 -no leads

Sources
Websleuths Members’ Posts http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91287&highlight=my+dad

MissingMyDad Posts http://www.websleuths.com/forums/search.php?searchid=2689011

Sources (Media)
http://www.4029tv.com/news/19467846/detail.html (05/14/2009 Friends Seek Missing, Possibly Injured Man)

http://www.4029tv.com/news/19475932/detail.html (05/15 Grim New Clues Found in Search for Missing Bar Owner)

http://www.topix.com/city/poteau-ok (Poteau News various)

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/poteau-ok/T9EFNOG79QCACVEB9 (05/17/2009 Joe Neff, Bar Owner, Missing in OK since May 14, 2009, Found &#8230

http://newsok.com/poteau-bar-owners-slaying-haunts-family/article/3377641 (06/14/2009 Poteau Bar Owner’s Slaying Haunts Family)

http://www.kfsm.com/news/kfsm-news-ok-neff-family-speaks-out,0,6693096.story (07/2009 Family of Murdered Bar Owner Wants Answers)

http://www.4029tv.com/news/20330998/detail.html (08/08/2009 Motorcycle Rider Honors Slain Bar Owner) "We're doing what Joe did every Sunday," said Stacey Nickell of the Protector's Motorcycle Association. "We're doing the same ride that he did."

http://www.4029tv.com/video/20331311/ (08/2009 Homicide Investigation Continues)

htp://www.tulsaworld.com/news/artic...cleid=20090614_12_A14_Police445201&rss_lnk=11 (LeFore County’s 6 Homicides Unusually High)

http://www.4029tv.com/video/21108655/index.html (09/24/2009 Family Asks Public for Help in Solving Murder Mystery

http://www.4029tv.com/news/21108591/detail.html (09/24/2009 Popular Bar Owner’s Slaying Still Unsolved)

http://newsok.com/some-oklahoma-homicide-cases-linger-but-arent-cold/article/3406134#ixzz0WFe8Ja8Z (10/04/2009 Some Oklahoma Homicide Cases Linger, But Aren’t Cold)

http://www.4029tv.com/news/21722884/detail.html (11/25/2009 OSBI Announces Creation of Cold Case Unit)

http://www.newsok.com/article/3421922?searched=rilee#ixzz0YY7As9fx (12/02/2009 Task Force Sought for LeFlore County’s Pending Cases)

Local Media Sources
Poteau Daily News
The Heavener Ledger
The Daily Oklahoman
Channel 40/29 (Fort Smith and Fayetteville, AR)
Channel 5 (Fayetteville, AR)

 

[Vegas Bride]

Have there been any other murders in the area since Joe's ?
Also, since the owner of the land where he was found lived near-by, did he hear gunshots? Since it probably happened during the day he very well may have been away from his home. If he was away, who were the people that might know it would be safe to either bring a dead body, or bring someone out there to kill and the land owner wouldn't be around.

VB

 

[Noway]

I made it through the last pages. I have 24 hours from the time I created that post to edit it. If you have suggestions or changes you think should be made, let me know.

I know that MissingMyDad's full name and that of her siblings has been mentioned in mainstream media but for some reason I felt funny about putting them in here. I can't explain it exactly ... but I will leave it as is for now.

 

[Sillybilly]

MMD ... just want to say how terribly sorry I am about your pain and the tremendous loss of your wonderful Father. Have read through this thread about your Dad and will read it again to make sure i'm digesting everything.

Justice does not always come swiftly, but it usually does come eventually. My stepfather was murdered and it took LE 13 years, but his "best friend" was ultimately tried, convicted of his murder, and died in prison. We always say, he didn't just kill our stepfather, he killed our Mother, who changed overnight from a bubbly, beautiful woman into a negative, paranoid and depressed person. DO NOT EVER LET THESE PEOPLE DO THIS TO YOU MMD !!

I wish you a blessed New Year, and will pray for justice for your beloved Father, for you, and for your family.

 

[Slammed]

1st post here, after searching to see if there were any updates on somer thompson i happened to find this site, and after looking around this was the first case that really caught my eye so i read from start to finish. Now a few of my thoughts...

1) If looking for an "older model red import pickup" why are they specifying nissan or toyota? there were several other japanese companies producing trucks which all look reasonably similar to the untrained eye if coming from the same vintage. If the witness was able to positively identify the brand i would think that would narrow down the matches considerably. Since Nissan or toyota were mentioned, i think that its just an assumption based on the most common brands.

IMO Izuzu and Mazda (same platform and many parts shared with ford ranger) should bear investigating. Additionally, since no japanese manufacturers made a full size truck until the inception of the tundra in the late 90's (which wouldnt really be considered "older" looking) I would also look at similar older american minitrucks like the S10 (and similar GMC counterpart) Ford Ranger, Dodge dakota, etc. I can't believe that police aren't able to obtain listings of people within certain radius who have certain types of vehicles in certain colors or something. It shouldn't be too hard and at least would give them SOMETHING to work on


2) I think that you can rule out a transient drug addict. I know for a fact that after a fiend commits a crime they are focused on getting drugs right away, asap. Unless they needed to travel 20+ miles to procure said drugs and dropped him on the way i HIGHLY doubt it. Additionally most people who are desperate enough to kill for drugs have already pawned their vehicles and belongings (gun, etc) and lack the resources for such an undertaking

3) I also feel that he was never brought to the house. Whoever did it clearly was familiar enough with his routine to also know that the bar would be open soon and someone would be along shortly and find things as they did. I doubt that they would risk being at the house or spotted in the area and potentially intercepted by police with the body on hand. I feel certain that he went straight from there to the the site he was discovered

4) I would like to see a map of the entire surrounding area and the locations where his home, business, the gf's home, and the strip mine are marked

 

[Noway]

This was created by someone else and has some of what you want plus more.

Jody and Joe Map

 

[KariKae]

Basically, if you look, you will see. Open your heart & mind and you will see/feel your dad with you.

This is so true. I lost my dad very unexpectly Dec 15, 2006. In my dad's case, he was not murdered. He died of a heart attack while on a business trip. He didn't show up for work. His co-worker got worried. They had to break down his hotel room door and found him. He had died in his sleep.

The day after his death. I remember sitting in my mom's living room. I was alone. I remember "talking" to my dad, asking him for a sign that he was alright. Within a few minutes, one of the wrapped packages said, "Woo Hoo. This is fun." We have since opened that package. That particular toy says, "Woo Hoo" and "This is fun", but it does not say those phrases together. It was the sign I asked for. Since then, my dad has given me other signs, mostly when I ask for them.

Ask your dad for a sign. I truly believe you will receive one.

 

[KariKae]

I'm sorry to be so graphic, but is the girlfriend or bar patron able to tell you how much blood? I hate to keep hitting this point, but to me, it's important whether he was likely alive or not when leaving the bar? Who cleaned up the crime scene? I don't think OSBI typcially cleans up the crime scene. There are a few private companies to who that.