A former metropolis councilman and businessman in Guthrie, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in jail after being discovered responsible in April of killing his Black co-worker and burying him underneath septic tank.
Based on Fox 25 Information, Daniel Triplett was sentenced to life in jail with out parole for first diploma homicide and 7 years for desecration of a corpse.
Investigators stated that Triplett fired Brent mack on Sept. 20, 2021, and gave him a $1,000 servance earlier than dropping him off at a laundromat in Guthrie. Mack went lacking and Triplett was found to be the final particular person to see him alive.
“Clearly, we all know what occurred,” stated Mack’s son to WGXA, Brendon Mack. “That man goes to rot.”
Police reviewed surveillance footage from outdoors of the laundromat and noticed Triplett’s truck drive by however by no means really cease. They then started to query Triplett concerning the final job he and Mack did collectively. Triplett instructed police that it was on Sept. 8 in Crescent.
Authorities acquired a search warrant for Triplett’s house and automobile. Throughout the search, they discovered a logbook of job areas. They found the 2 males put in a septic system at a house in Mulhall on September, which was the identical day Mack was reported lacking.
The individuals who Mack and Triplette put in the septic system for had surveillance footage of the lads engaged on the job web site. The footage reveals Mack going right into a gap they dug to put in the system however by no means coming again out. It additionally confirmed Triplett and Mack arriving collectively however just one particular person leaving.
Investigators dug up the septic tank on October 21 and state anthropologists used a probe to search out the physique. Based on a number of stories, investigators discovered a pockets with Mack’s ID after the physique was exhumed. Additionally they discovered that Triplett shot Mack within the again whereas he was down within the gap.
The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s Workplace post-mortem report states that Mack died from a gunshot wound to the higher again.
Triplett had his bond revoked in January 2022 after being launched on a $500,000 bond in December 2021.
He claimed self-defense in the course of the trial by stating that Mack turned indignant after he instructed him that it was his final day on the job.
Triplett claimed Mack was trying to go away early earlier than he was fired. He alleged the 2 received right into a heated argument and Mack was the one who pulled the gun on him first inside the outlet they constructed for the septic tank. He additionally said that he initially lied to police and Mack’s household as a result of he “freaked out,” in accordance with Guthrie Information Web page.
It was reported that Logan County District Lawyer Laura Austin Thomas stated Triplett plans to file an enchantment claiming he was not given a good trial.
