Investigator James Poffel: Kidnapping And Rape

On September 5th, 2016 I, Investigator James Poffel was contacted by Officer Jessica Yarbrough in reference to a sexual assault report she was out on at the front desk of the Muskogee Police Department. The report Officer Yarbrough was taking was in reference to a kidnapping and first degree rape that occurred on September 4th, 2016 at the Comfort Inn, room #112, in Muskogee, OK.

The victim’s of the kidnapping and rape are Gabriel Freeman (age 14) and Shantaneia Brown (age 15). Gabriel and Shantaneia are cousins and were brought to the front desk of the police department by Gabriel’s father and Shantaneia’s mother to report the incident. Gabriel and Shantaneia were brought back individually to have minimal fact interviews completed to give

us a greater understanding of what happened and where we needed to focus our efforts. Gabriel told me she went to hang out with a girl that she met when she was in the shelter. Gabriel said she could not remember her name exactly, but it was something like Jemica or Danica. For the purpose of this report and clarification, I will refer to her as Jemica. Gabriel and Shantaneia met her at an apartment complex in Tulsa, believed to be the Open World Apartments, 2413 East 55th Place, possibly apartment #10, Tulsa, OK 74105. Once they met her there, her friend Jemica told them to get in the car and they would go for a ride and to go and get drunk. Gabriel said there was another black female, possibly named Krystal, with them. They then went and got into a white convertible car. That is when they drove them to Muskogee, to the hotel and would not let them leave. Jemica took them in the back door of the hotel and to room #112. There they were introduced to an adult white male, who later sexually assaulted them.
At the conclusion of the minimal facts interview there was sufficient information to say that Gabriel and Shantaneia were held against their will and raped by an unknown white male. I called Megan Merrill, who is a forensic interviewer with Kids’ Space Child Advocacy Center to see if she was available to conduct two forensic interviews. She told me she was available on September 6th, 2016. I scheduled the forensic interviews.
Investigators Anthony Brown, Mark Campbell and Lt. John Pearson went to the Comfort in and made contact with management. The manager, Lori Wood, signed a search warrant waiver to allow them to take photographs and to collect whatever evidence possible. The management was already aware of the incident and after the parties left the room, management locked the room awaiting law enforcement due to the discloser to them of being raped. Several items of evidence were collected, as well as documentation of who rented the room. The person who rented the room was Krystal Thornton of Oklahoma City, OK. This is who we believe would be the other black female who was in the car when they got in the car.
On September 6th, 2016, Gabriel and Shantaneia arrived at Kids’ Space for their forensic interviews. Megan Merrill, a trained forensic interviewer conducted the interviews. I observed the forensic interviews from the observation room.
Gabriel went first for the forensic interview. The following is a brief summary of the forensic interview, not an exact transcript. Megan started off the interview by building rapport and introducing herself and the interview room and interview process. Through the interview Gabriel went into detail disclosing about when and where they first met with Jemica and Krystal. Gabriel talked about how they drove around Tulsa for a little while before coming to Muskogee. Gabriel stated they started getting an uneasy feeling when they noticed they were leaving Tulsa because they did not agree to coming to Muskogee. They asked where they were going and all they would say is they were going to meet with this guy real quick.
Once in Muskogee, they pulled up to the Comfort Inn.

Jemica and Krystal walked them in the back door of the hotel to room #112. As they got into the room, Jemica and Krystal forced the girls down, onto the bed. Jemica and Krystal were described as larger black females. At least bigger than Gabriel and Shantaniea. Jemica and Krystal held them down while the unknown adult male, tore their clothing off of them and raped them. The older white male was described as having a pony tail in a large braid, wearing a tan hat, and was physically strong. Gabriel was able to describe the tattoo that he had on his chest. She said he was not wearing a condom that she could tell. He not only raped them on the bed, but then forced them into the shower where he raped both of them again in the

shower.
Gabriel said she felt as if he was a “pimp” and Jemica and Krystal were his “call girls”. Gabriel also stated her and her cousin felt this was his girl’s way of proving themselves to him and trying to recruit them. Jemixa and Krystal held the girls arms and held them down while the while male raped them. Gabriel said she remembers looking at Jemica with a look like she was pleading to make him stop.
Furthermore, as the white male finished raping them. Jemica, Krystal and the white male left the hotel together. After they left Gabriel and Shantania felt like they would be safe enough to tell the front desk employee what happened to them. Gabriel and Shantania did not know how to get back home to Tulsa because Jemica and Krystal left with the car. They were going to walk all the way back to Tulsa.
Additionally, after every guest checks out, they inspect the room for damages.

Anjannete Cubis, head of housekeeping, checked the room and noticed blood on the bed sheets. She immediately notified her supervisor and asked what she needed to do. Anjannete was informed to gather the bedding and put them into a trash bag. She was told to hold them for law enforcement and if they did not want them, than they would attempt to wash the stains out of them.

Furthermore, I have been in contact with Gabrielle Freeman’s legal guardian and grandmother. She believes her son knows who the man is who raped Gabrielle and can find out his name. I was provided with and address of the Open World Apartments, 2413 E 55th Pl, Apartment 10, Tulsa, OK as being the residence the suspect is believed to be living at. I was unable to find information for anyone at that residence matching the description of the suspect. Additionally, I called and spoke with the manager on duty at the apartment complex. The apartment manager would not release tenant’s names over the phone.

At this time, this investigation is being inactivated, pending any additional leads or information received that could lead to the possible identification of the suspect and his

location.
A copy of the victim’s forensic interviews, witness statements, documentation from the motel, and sexual assault examination documentation.

James Poffel #560
Muskogee Police Department
Criminal Investigations Division