Marlow woman guilty of murder, 137 animal cruelty counts

DUNCAN — Following six days of testimony, a 52-year-old Marlow woman was convicted of killing a woman and of 137 counts of animal cruelty.

Karen Jean Pritchard was convicted Wednesday by a jury in Stephens County District Court of second-degree murder and all but one count of cruelty to animals.

The jury recommended Pritchard serve 10 years in prison for the murder count and 40 years for the accumulated animal cruelty counts, Stephens County District Attorney Jason Hicks said. Hicks said she will serve consecutive sentences.

“The 40 is from adding multiple recommendations together,” he said. “Then on top of the 40, it’s an additional 10 so it’s fair to say (she’ll serve) 50. The 10 requires 85 percent of service before eligibility for parole, then there is ballpark of 35 that will be (served in the) Department of Corrections and another five that will be county jail.”

Pritchard was arrested in February 2021 after she admitted to killing Ashely Anderson, 31, of Marlow, at Pritchard’s home at 2496 N. U.S. 81, according to the probable cause affidavit. The death followed an argument between the women because, according to Pritchard, Anderson hadn’t been taking care of the dogs while staying at the home. She said she fired Anderson, told her to leave and a fight followed.

Anderson returned to the home the next day and, Pritchard testified, they got into another fight before telling Anderson to get in the bed of Pritchard’s truck so she could leave. At one point, according to Pritchard, Anderson fell out of the truck bed before getting back in and jumping out again, the affidavit states. She didn’t get up from the ground the second time.

A witness testified he helped Pritchard move Anderson into the house; the heat wasn’t working and it was 19 degrees. Pritchard told police she “freaked out” and put her body into a container, according to the affidavit.

While investigators were at the scene, around 200 puppies and dogs were found living in what was described as unhealthy conditions. Many dogs were found in outbuildings that had “an overbearing smell of ammonia, the floors were covered in feces and the water for the dogs was frozen,” the affidavit states. Most dogs had matted hair and were covered with feces. Many were ill due to being in the cold temperatures.

Pritchard made her initial appearance on Feb. 22, 2021, and was given a $1 million bond with the condition she provide no animal care and she wear a GPS. She had been free on bond since March 5, 2021. She is now in jail awaiting formal sentencing following a pre-sentence investigation.