Duncan woman sentenced for murder, animal cruelty convictions

DUNCAN — A 52-year-old Marlow woman convicted of killing a woman and of 137 counts of animal cruelty received her sentence Tuesday.

Karen Jean Pritchard appeared in Stephens County District Court where District Judge Ken Graham sentenced her to serve 10 years in prison for the murder count, and 40 years in prison and 5 years in county lockup for the accumulated animal cruelty counts, records indicate.

Following six days of trial, the jury recommended Pritchard serve 10 years in prison for the murder count and 40 years for the accumulated animal cruelty counts.

District Attorney Jason Hicks said the sentences will be served consecutively and the murder count requires her to serve 85 percent of the sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

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.

The next day, Anderson returned to the home, the women argued and Pritchard had Anderson get in the bed of her pickup to leave. Anderson fell out of the truck twice and didn’t get up from the ground the second time.

A witness testified that 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.

Investigators discovered 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.