Latimer County Man Sentenced to Over 22 Years for Tuskahoma Murder
Latimer County Man Sentenced to Over 22 Years for Tuskahoma Murder
MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma — A Latimer County man has been sentenced to more than two decades in federal prison for a deadly 2024 shooting and arson case in Tuskahoma, according to federal officials.
Federal Sentence Handed Down
Willard Leroy Robbins, Jr., also known as “Bub,” 41, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 274 months (over 22 years) in prison after pleading guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country.
The sentencing was announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma following a federal court hearing in Muskogee.
Robbins entered his guilty plea on May 27, 2025, admitting to shooting the victim with a 12-gauge shotgun and setting fire to the residence in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Timeline of the Crime
According to investigators, the incident began on the evening of April 10, 2024, when Latimer County dispatchers received a report of a man walking along Highway 2 carrying a long-barreled firearm.
A Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police officer responded and encountered Robbins walking along the roadside. Authorities say Robbins appeared intoxicated and was being placed under arrest for public intoxication when a second emergency call came in reporting a nearby house fire in Tuskahoma.
Crime Scene Investigation
When first responders—including Lighthorse officers and Latimer County deputies—arrived at the residence, they found it engulfed in flames.
After the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered a deceased victim inside the home, who had suffered an apparent gunshot wound.
Authorities later uncovered key pieces of evidence linking Robbins to the crime:
- Two Remington 12-gauge shotgun shells at the scene
- A matching box of ammunition found in Robbins’ possession
- A boot print consistent with footwear Robbins was wearing at the time of arrest
- Witness statements placing Robbins with a shotgun prior to the fire
These findings played a critical role in building the federal case against him.
Jurisdiction and Investigation
The crime occurred within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, placing it under federal jurisdiction as a crime committed in Indian Country.
The investigation was a coordinated effort between:
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- The Latimer County Sheriff’s Office
- The Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
The case was presided over by Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald A. White in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
Robbins will serve a non-paroleable federal sentence, meaning he must complete the full term without the possibility of early release through parole.
He will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he is transferred to a federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Community Impact
The case has drawn attention across southeastern Oklahoma, particularly in Latimer County and surrounding communities, highlighting both the severity of violent crime and the role of multi-agency cooperation in bringing cases to justice.
Authorities emphasized that crimes occurring within tribal jurisdictions continue to be prosecuted at the federal level, ensuring accountability in cases involving serious offenses.
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