Pryor Couple Convicted In Federal Child Sexual Abuse Case After Years On The Run

Pryor Couple Convicted In Federal Child Sexual Abuse Case After Years On The Run

A years-long manhunt has ended with guilty verdicts for a Pryor couple who fled Oklahoma to avoid prosecution. A federal jury has convicted Larry Tennison and Gretchen Tennison of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country after prosecutors said they sexually abused a 15-year-old before using fake identities to evade authorities for years.

The convictions were announced by the U.S. Department of Justice following a trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. Investigators located the couple in Montana, where they had been living under assumed names while operating a handyman business.

Federal sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

Pryor Couple Convicted In Federal Child Sexual Abuse Case

The Pryor couple convicted in federal child sexual abuse case was found guilty by a unanimous federal jury.

According to court testimony, the abuse occurred between August 2018 and April 2019 while the victim was 15 years old and living in Pryor, Oklahoma.

The victim testified she was groomed by the Tennisons through gifts and attention before they began providing her with alcoholic beverages. She told jurors she was often intoxicated to the point of stumbling or vomiting before being sexually abused.

One incident described during the trial occurred during a private birthday celebration for Larry Tennison's 60th birthday, where the victim testified she was the only guest invited.

Investigators with the Mayes County Sheriff's Office later executed a search warrant at the couple's home, where deputies recovered evidence that prosecutors said corroborated the victim's account.

Additional information about federal prosecutions is available through the U.S. Department of Justice.

Couple Fled Oklahoma And Lived Under Fake Names

Following the state investigation, Larry Tennison, 67, and Gretchen Tennison, 48, who is a member of the Cherokee Nation, were later federally indicted under seal in May 2021.

Prosecutors said the couple quickly sold many of their belongings and left Oklahoma after learning they were under investigation.

According to testimony presented during trial, the pair initially planned to travel to Florida before changing plans and eventually settling in Columbus, Montana, where they used the aliases "Keith Smith" and "Fran Smith."

Authorities located the couple after the FBI received a credible tip identifying them. Deputies with the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office confirmed their identities before FBI agents arrested both defendants.

During Larry Tennison's post-arrest interview, jurors heard him describe living in a van, discarding cellphones, and using false identities while working as a handyman in Montana.

Additional information about the FBI is available through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Sentencing Will Be Scheduled In Federal Court

The investigation was led by the FBI and the Mayes County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office in Montana.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Ihler and Christopher Kelly in the Northern District of Oklahoma.

A federal judge will determine sentencing during a future hearing. Under federal law, sentencing takes place after preparation of a presentence investigation report and consideration of federal sentencing guidelines.

Officials also remind the public that anyone with information related to ongoing federal investigations may submit tips directly to the FBI.

Additional federal case information is available through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

The Pryor couple convicted in federal child sexual abuse case brings to a close a multi-year investigation that stretched from Oklahoma to Montana and ultimately ended with a federal jury finding both defendants guilty.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

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