Caddo County vehicular murder suspect survives jail suicide attempt

ANADARKO — A Cyril man jailed for a wreck following a fatal police pursuit attempted suicide over the weekend.

Justin Chase Milford, a.k.a. Chase Burns, 35, attempted to hang himself in his cell at the Caddo County jail. According to the Caddo County jail, his attempt was unsuccessful. He was medically treated and returned to the jail’s custody Tuesday morning.

Milford has been jailed since being picked up at a Cyril home on Sept. 11. He made his initial appearance Sept. 13 for felony counts of first-degree murder and eluding/attempting to elude police, both after former felony conviction, records indicate.

Milford is accused of driving a Chevrolet Tahoe on Sept. 9 with Billie Jean Butler, a.k.a. “B.J.,” 35, of Oklahoma City, as a passenger. After Anadarko police attempted to make a traffic stop for an expired tag the night of Sept. 9, Milford took off in a Chevrolet Tahoe and a pursuit followed, according to law enforcement.

Milford leaped from the moving SUV and fled. Butler was unsuccessful in her escaped and was pinned between the vehicle’s seat, the door and a concrete barrier on a bridge on U.S. 281 a half-mile north of Anadarko, the probable cause affidavit states.

Investigators received an anonymous tip on Sept. 11 that Milford was at a home in Cyril, where he was found hiding in a closet, according to the affidavit.

During questioning, Milford confirmed he’d smoked methamphetamine earlier that day and the first interview was terminated. The next morning, Milford said he was a “drug addict and needed some help,” according to the affidavit.

Milford said he “jumped out because he did not want to run anymore and figured B.J. could take the vehicle and run,” the affidavit states. He told investigators he never meant to hurt the woman.

Milford has a June 2019 conviction in Comanche County for a misdemeanor charge of defrauding an innkeeper/restauranteur, records indicate.

Originally, Milford was identified as being from Chickasha, according to jail logs. That information has been since updated.

Held on $800,000 bond, Milford returns to court at 9 a.m. Dec. 14 for his preliminary hearing conference, records indicate.