Man Who Murdered Two Native Americans Will Serve Life

OKLAHOMA – In Oklahoma, a state with one of the highest numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous people, a Native American family received a semblance of justice this week, although many cases remain unresolved. A 2018 MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) report highlighted Oklahoma City as one of the top ten cities nationwide with a significant number of unrecorded cases in law enforcement records. Efforts by state lawmakers have been ongoing to address this alarming issue.

The pursuit for justice saw a milestone this week for a Del City family. Nearly three years after the murder of two family members, the perpetrator, Devonta Williams, was brought to justice. In a tragic incident dating back to March 2021, Williams fatally shot his girlfriend, Lakota Woods, and then her uncle, Aussie Paschal. Both murders were a result of domestic violence that escalated to a deadly climax.

Williams received life imprisonment without parole for each murder charge. The sentencing brought mixed emotions to the victims’ family. “The family is still feeling heartbroken but at the end of the day, they feel optimistic about Lakota and Aussie receiving justice,” stated Abbie Harjochee, President of the MMIW Eastern Oklahoma Chapter. Lakota’s brother, Robert Fixico, expressed his enduring grief, saying, “I don’t think the chapter will ever close, you know. That was my little sister, you know, my uncle was Aussie, you know, so I don’t think it’ll ever close.”

The family members, clad in red at the court, symbolized their solidarity with the MMIW movement. Indigenous women, as per federal data, are among the most vulnerable to violence and murder. Harjochee highlighted the dire statistics: “85% of our women are abused by the hands of their abuser and the outcome is there’s no in-between. It’s either life or death, and this is what happened because of domestic [violence].”

Legislative action in Oklahoma, such as The Not Invisible Act of 2020, aims to improve coordination between agencies dealing with violence against Native Americans. This law, among others, is a step towards changing the grim statistics surrounding Indigenous communities.

29-year-old Devonta Williams, who entered a blind plea of guilty, will now spend his life behind bars. He received the maximum sentence for the first-degree murder charges of both his girlfriend and her uncle. However, the family contends that no punishment can fully alleviate their loss. “Justice was served, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t bring them back,” remarked Harjochee.

The double murder, stemming from a domestic dispute, escalated into a horrific scene on Williams’ front lawn. Despite his attorneys’ defense of self-defense, the judge found no justification in this claim. Harjochee reflected on the irreparable loss: “Because of his actions, these people are no longer here today, and they will forever live with that.”

The family shared with News 9 their sentiment that the sentencing, while bringing some relief, does not end their pain. “I don’t think this chapter of my life will ever close,” Fixico reiterated after the sentencing.

In addition to the life sentences, Williams also received two concurrent 10-year sentences on related firearm charges, marking the conclusion of a tragic chapter in the ongoing struggle for justice in Indigenous communities.