Lawton couple indicted for killing Comanche woman, dumping her in refuge

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two Lawton people have been charged in federal court for their roles in the death of a Comanche Nation woman.

The body of Karen “Dinkers” Connywerdy Smith, 68, of Lawton, was found May 17 in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. She was a member of the Comanche Nation.

Tevin Terrell Semien, 29, was charged with one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one alternative count of second-degree murder, and one count of illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

Makayla Nicole Leigh Logsdon, 24, was charged with one count of accessory after the fact to murder.

Semien was arraigned on Oct. 18 and Logsdon was arraigned on Oct. 23. Both pleaded not guilty and are detained in federal custody pending trial.

According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint against Semien, Smith’s body was seen by a passerby lying about 25 feet off Oklahoma 49, just inside the east entrance to the refuge, around 1 p.m. May 17. Smith appeared to have suffered bludgeon wounds to her face and head, according to the probable cause affidavit.

During a search of the woman’s home at 3318½ SW 6th by an FBI forensics team, investigators discovered blood consistent with a violent struggle. Smith’s vehicle was missing as well.

On May 21, Texas law enforcement observed the victim’s vehicle driving south of Dallas, Texas. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the vehicle fled at a high speed, eventually crashing into a lake. The two occupants of the vehicle, later identified as Semien and Logsdon, attempted to flee, but were apprehended.

At first, Semien denied involvement in the woman’s death but eventually admitted he’d killed her, the affidavit states. He said Logsdon, his girlfriend, is a relative of the victim’s.

Semien told investigators his girlfriend asked him to kill the woman because she was angry with the victim, according to the affidavit. He said he wasn’t sure she was serious at first, but he eventually agreed to do it.

During his interview, Semien said he bludgeoned Smith to death with a brick, put her body in the trunk of the vehicle and disposed of her body in the refuge, the affidavit states.

Semien is serving a five-year suspended sentence following a December 2022 conviction in Comanche County to a count of conspiracy, Oklahoma Department of Corrections records indicate.

Semien faces up to life imprisonment in federal prison. Logsdon faces up to 15 years in federal prison if found guilty.

This case is in federal court because the victim and Logsdon are enrolled members of the Comanche Nation and the murder occurred within Indian Country, according to Troester.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark R. Stoneman and Allison Christian are prosecuting the case.

The case furthers the Department of Justice’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons efforts to address violence against Native American individuals, according to Troester.

More information about this initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip.