Trooper Larry Verne Crabtree

Trooper Larry Verne Crabtree | Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma
Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma
Trooper Larry Verne Crabtree

Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Oklahoma

End of Watch Monday, April 4, 1977

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Larry Verne Crabtree

Trooper Larry Crabtree was shot and killed after stopping a car for running a tollgate on the Turner Turnpike about three miles west of Bristow.

While approaching the vehicle the juvenile driver turned in the seat and shot Trooper Crabtree at point blank range with a shotgun. Witnesses notified other troopers via CB and the suspect was apprehended approximately 14 miles away.

The 16-year-old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death, but the sentence was later reduced to life in prison. He was denied parole in February 2005.

Trooper Crabtree had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 13 years.

Bio

  • Age 43
  • Tour 13 years
  • Badge 294

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Shotgun
  • Offender Denied parole in 2005

juvenile offender, traffic stop

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I was a 7 year old kid riding to tulsa with my family when a little red Volkswagen passed us very fast. I remember my mom saying something about a nasty looking fella with his shirt off. I seen the fella too, about 10 minutes later we came over a hill and there was a trooper lying on the side of the road another car or a semi was already pulled over my dad got out to try to help but dad came back to the car and said there's nothing he could do as Trooper Crabtree took his last breath and closed his eyes. I will never forget that day and I think about it every time I go down the turnpike. Today I stopped at McDonald's on the way to Oklahoma city and seen his memorial . When I got home this evening I told my fiance about it and looked it up and found these stories about him and decided to share mine.thank you for your service Trooper Crabtree and the Oklahoma highway patrol .

Mike W

November 12, 2020

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