Jacob Mayhugh: Oklahoma man fatally shoots parents and sister after telling girlfriend he was going home for pizza

Jacob Mayhugh, 22, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder
PUBLISHED MAY 18, 2024
Jacob Mayhugh (inset) was charged with triple-homicide in shooting deaths of his parents James and Patty Mayhugh and and sister Shayla Mayhugh (Grady County Jail, GoFundMe, FB)
Jacob Mayhugh (inset) was charged with triple-homicide in shooting deaths of his parents James and Patty Mayhugh and and sister Shayla Mayhugh (Grady County Jail, GoFundMe, FB)

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

CHICKASHA, OKLAHOMA: Chickasha Police arrested a 22-year-old man on May 14 for allegedly fatally shooting his parents and sister inside their Oklahoma home. Jacob Mayhugh was on the run for three days before he was found in Oklahoma City. 

Cops responded to a 911 call reporting gunfire at a home near South 6th Street and West Washington Avenue on Saturday, May 11. When officers arrived, they found two women and one man dead from gunshot wounds. 

Jacob Mayhugh killed his own family in horrific triple homicide

Police discovered James and Patty Mayhugh, along with their daughter Shayla Mayhugh, dead from gunshot wounds. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed the grim details in a statement, noting that Jacob was initially a person of interest before becoming the prime suspect.

Jacob Mayhugh (Grady County Jail)
Jacob Mayhugh was arrested for killing his parents and sister (Grady County Jail)

Jacob had left his girlfriend's house the day before the shooting, stating he was headed to his parent's home for pizza, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by local news outlet KOCO-TV.

Phone records revealed that Patty texted Jacob shortly after, letting him know that dinner was ready. At the crime scene, investigators found a rifle with a serial number matching one purchased by Jacob on April 25, alongside spent shell casings.

Jacob Mayhugh allegedly admitted to the crime

Mayhugh was arrested by the US Marshals Service and Oklahoma City Police Department after a warrant for his arrest on three counts of first-degree murder was issued, according to a statement from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

From left: Patty Mayhugh, James Mayhugh and Shayla Mayhugh (GoFundMe/Facebook)
(L to R) Patty Mayhugh, James Mayhugh and Shayla Mayhugh were fatally shot inside their Oklahoma home (GoFundMe/Facebook)

The affidavit further alleges that Jacob confessed to the murders during questioning on May 14. His current legal representation and plea status remain unclear.

Mayhugh family's relatives open up about 'unimaginable tragedy'

In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up by a relative to help cover funeral expenses.

"My family is going through an unimaginable tragedy," wrote Brandon Burnett. "My cousin, Shayla, and her parents, my Aunt Patty and Uncle James, are gone, and we are still asking ourselves, 'is this real?'" As of May 18, the fundraiser has raised over $4,430, reflecting the community's outpouring of support for the grieving family.

Community members expressed their shock and sorrow over the loss. "Everybody knows who they are," local resident Jeni Richardson told KOCO-TV. "They were really engrained [sic] into the community, as far as I know, for forever. They were some of the sweetest people.”

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