Oklahoma couple buried, excavated, and kept hiding dead daughter's remains

July 13, 2009

While perusing police and media reports last week, I came across the bizarre case of an Oklahoma couple who allegedly covered up the death of their child for some 15 months. During that time, they buried, exhumed the child, and transported her body across six states nearly a-half-dozen times.

So what drove Abel Travis Wolf, 35, and Denise Ann Wolf, 40, to hide the death of 11-year-old Cheyenne and transport her body a total of 1,900 miles? That's the key question personnel at several law enforcement agencies are trying to answer this week as they continue to sift through the evidence.

According to Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson Jessica Brown, authorities became aware of the case on May 9 when relatives of the family contacted Ardmore Police and expressed concerns about Cheyenne's well being, saying that they had not seen her since April 2008. Thus began homicide detective Ruben Garcia's search for answers that led him to six states the family was known to have moved and or travelled to during the 15-month time span. That search eventually led police to a storage facility in Oregon.

On the morning of July 4, detectives with the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police served a search warrant on the Milton-Freewater storage facility, at which time they observed two plastic containers with snap-on lids. Upon removing the lids from the containers, authorities determined the contents were consistent with human decomposition.

"The weight of the containers and the odor that was emitted from them led us to believe there was some type of decaying flesh in them," Umatilla County Sheriff John Trumbo told newsok.com.

Investigators then resealed the containers and transported them 210 miles to the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office. While awaiting autopsy results, investigators back in Oklahoma tried to determine how the young child, who used leg braces and crutches to walk, may have ended up in the two plastic containers. In an effort to assemble the facts, authorities in Montana – a state the Wolfs recently moved to – picked the couple up and brought them in for police questioning.

According to police affidavits, Abel Wolf said that his family got into an argument one evening in April 2008, when Cheyenne refused to eat her dinner. During the course of the argument, Wolf said that he and another daughter went outside to have a cigarette. Wolf said that roughly 15 minutes later he heard a "thump" and went back inside to investigate, at which time he observed that Cheyenne appeared to be in a daze. Wolf said he examined her pupils and, seeing nothing abnormal, put her to bed.

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Wolf said he did not check on Cheyenne the following morning and that he went to work at a local casino where he repaired slot machines. It was not until later that night, Wolf said, that he discovered his daughter had died. For reasons that remain unclear, Wolf and his wife decided not to report the child's death and instead put her inside a plastic container, which they hid in an outdoor storage shed.

In the days that followed, the plastic container began to emit a pungent odor, and police say Abel Wolf then buried his daughter's body under the front deck of their mobile home. Cheyenne's body remained hidden in the ground until August 2008, when persistent questions from inquisitive friends and neighbors, along with an incident in which another one of their children was placed in a hospital, convinced the Wolfs to pack up and move to Havre, Mont. It was then, police say, that the couple dug up Cheyenne's remains and placed them into three large bags. They put two bags in one plastic container and the other in a second container. After transporting the containers to Montana, the Wolfs put them inside a garage.

The containers remained inside the garage until January 2009 when the Wolfs moved to Milton-Freewater, Ore., where police say they first hid them inside a chicken coop and then in a storage shed. Cheyenne's remains were kept there until February 2009 when they were moved to the Milton-Freewater storage facility where they were recently found.

A preliminary autopsy shows that the remains are consistent with Cheyenne's medical history; however, a positive investigation using dental records is still pending. A cause of death is also pending; however, police say that the condition of the remains could make that impossible to determine with any degree of certainty.

As a result of the discovery and the Wolfs' statements to police, the couple was arrested and charged with unlawful removal of a body. They are expected to be extradited to Oklahoma sometime this week.

Meanwhile, investigators are looking at Cheyenne's sister, who they say could be involved in her death.

"On one occasion [Denise] went into the house and found [a sister] kicking and stomping Cheyenne Wolf in the bedroom," reads a police report.

No word yet on whether the sister has been questioned.

If convicted, Abel and Denise Wolf face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Photo Credits: Abel and Denise Wolf: Police file photos; Cheyenne Wolf: Contributed

Please note: Persons appearing in mug shots may not have not been convicted of the charges for which they are accused and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission from Discovery Communications. All quotes must include a link back.

Comments

[Dismayed]

I am quite certain that unfortunately these parents did not report the death so that they could continue receiving SSI benefits for their disabled child. This is not the first time a parent has pulled this type of scam. RIP Cheyenne.

[Dismayed]

I am quite certain that unfortunately these parents did not report the death so that they could continue receiving SSI benefits for their disabled child. This is not the first time a parent has pulled this type of scam. RIP Cheyenne.

[James]

The charges seem light given the circumstances. While I realize the cause of death may not be determined, it would seem not reporting the death would suggest cause to want to cover something up.

At least manslaughter for the h/w duo would seem appropriate until somebody starts talking.

I am starting to believe in licenses for childrearing.

[Rod]

This is insane they need to start putting parent like this away so they don't have children anymore. Alot of parents should not be given the blessing of a child thats why the law needs to crack down on these situations. God forbid they do there 5 years and kill there other innocent child.

[Angel]

This sounds a little fishy to me. I believe that the parents had something to do with this child's death. Why else would they not report it? And only 5 years if convicted? Are you kidding me?? You can receive 10 years for forgery or other non-violent crimes. That just doesn't seem right. I think we should reevaluate these sentencing times...And I agree with James. I believe you should have to have a license to raise a child now days. Or at least undergo a psychological evaluation once a year. RIP Cheyenne and Caylee Anthony.

[Antony]

First of All, I feel sad for the happenings with the child, But I feel that the Punishment for the convicted parents is less...It should have been more as no one has the right to take ones life...I feel to Hand them a Public death...Hand them to public...and they will take care...But having said that one should also try to find the actual motive for the Murder..

[j.stephen.h]

Dismayed, you're probably Right on the Money about the SSI benefits motive...but that dosen't explain the bizarre reason for continuing to move the bodys' location wherever they went, that goes beyond whats necessary and adds considerable risk for them. Were they perhaps afraid that leaving it behind would eventually lead to their discovery? or was it more of a guilt thing? they wanted her to be with them wherever they finally settled down and have a proper burial? Occult fascination? these are but a few possibilities and any or none could be it...sadly we'll never know probably. The entire family screams dysfunction and its unfortunate that such a thing goes on daily across the States. I agree that sentencing is too light, and it sets off a red flag that Afterward there was another hospitalization incident that apparently went unchecked.

[danny]

I think they want to keep reseving SSI money for the dissabled child i do think the parent had somthing to do with it i feel bad for the child god bless her.

[bitter]

did they dismember her? Wouldnt that be abuse to a corpse? How did she fit into multiple containers?

[j.stephen.h]

bitter that would be unlawful abuse of a corpse or whatever other title it goes by (depending on jurisdiction) but they have to prove who did it and its hard to do so.

[Just Me]

Bitter - Human decomposition was ocurring. They did not have to dismember her. Rather she was litterally falling apart. This is a very sad situation. They cannot be convicted of murder if it cannot be "proven beyond a doubt" that they did, in fact, murder her. Keep in mind that only certain evidence will be admitted in court. The jury will not be reading this story. Terribly sad... RIP Cheyenne!

[Just Me]

Incidentally, these parents do not appear to be the sharpest tools in the shed or the brightest crayons in the box.

[Bad for Buisness]

In my opinion, this pair of -redacted- look like addicts. Legislators should use this case to mandate sterilization of any person who tests positive for Crystal Meth. People of such low integrity simply aren't meant to survive within our gene pool.

[floater31]

It sounds awful but if this was a lifelong torture situation,I hope she will be able to rest in peace now, Safely away from her assailants.