Life recommended for man found guilty of 2023 killing of bicyclist

A Comanche County jury deliberated a little over an hour Thursday night before finding a Lawton man guilty of the December 2023 killing of a bicyclist on Cache Road.

Jury selection began Wednesday and the one-day trial began the next for Vincent Joseph Sayers, 26, for felony charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatality accident, records indicate. He was found guilty on both counts and the jury recommended he serve the maximum sentence, life in prison plus 10 years for the second count and the maximum fine of $20,000.

Sayers he blacked out while on fentanyl when he drove a Mazda MZPV van that struck and killed bicyclist Mark Cochran near Northwest 50th Street and Cache Road on Dec. 22, 2023, before fleeing the scene after the accident. Testimony from an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation witness confirmed he did not have fentanyl or any drugs in his system at the time of the incident.

The medical examiner confirmed that Cochran died as a result of the extensive injuries sustained because of the accident. No motive was established, though the defense suggested Cochran and Sayers had a disagreement over a bicycle.

Security video from Braum’s, 4435 Cache Road, proved the most damning. The video showed the van stop at the intersection and wait for Cochran, who was on his bicycle, before accelerating toward Cochran and colliding into him, running him over and leaving. Witnesses testified Cochran identified Sayers as the driver who struck him.

Cochran was airlifted to OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City where he lived for another four days before passing from his injuries on Dec. 26, 2023.

Police found the van parked at Sayers’ home, 4421 NW Baltimore, and he and others there were taken in for interviews.

Sayers’ mother, Jill Renee Donnell, 45, of Lawton, was also charged on Feb. 28 with a felony count of accessory after the fact, records indicate. The crime is punishable by between five to 25 years in prison.

Donnell is accused of lying to police about her son being home. Following a search warrant of Sayers’ Facebook account, conversations between mother and son were discovered that included his admission to committing the crime.

Sayers told Donnell to report the van stolen and she later said she did but had to call back and say it was found because Twister Auto was going to track it, the affidavit states.

Donnell also messaged Sayers about meeting up and about parking the van in the garage for a couple of days to let the exhaust dry up so he could weld it, according to the affidavit.

Donnell is free on $20,000 bond and is scheduled for trial in the February/March 2025 jury trial docket.

Cochran’s family issued a statement following the verdict:

“Our family would like to thank the prosecutor Kyle Cabelka, Sgt. Justin Johnson, Lawton Police and Fire Departments, the witnesses that stayed with the victim, and most importantly, the jury of eight men and four women, all first time jurors, that agreed to stay late to render a verdict and justice to the family, and all the people that offered prayers and support.”