Stacy Lee Drake Capital Murder Trial Set For February 2027

Stacy Lee Drake Capital Murder Trial Set For February 2027

The Stacy Lee Drake capital murder trial is now scheduled to begin in early 2027 after a Sequoyah County judge approved an extended pretrial schedule for the man accused in a multi-state killing spree that left four people dead across Oklahoma and Alabama.

During an initial motions hearing in Sequoyah County District Court, Drake entered a plea of not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder filed in Oklahoma. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty if Drake is convicted. Defense attorneys successfully requested additional time to prepare their capital defense, moving jury selection to February 1, 2027.

Stacy Lee Drake Capital Murder Trial Moves Toward 2027

The Oklahoma case centers on the June 18, 2024, shooting deaths of Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp at LaFerry's Propane in Gans, near Muldrow.

Investigators allege Drake killed the two employees during an attempted carjacking as he searched for another vehicle while fleeing law enforcement.

In Sequoyah County District Court, Drake faces three counts of first-degree murder, three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon, one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, and one count alleging a pattern of criminal offenses.

During the hearing, the court established a detailed pretrial schedule that allows both prosecutors and defense attorneys additional time to prepare for what is expected to be a lengthy capital murder case. If convicted on the murder charges, Drake could face the death penalty.

Multi-State Investigation Linked Four Deaths

Authorities say the alleged crime spree began on May 14, 2024, when Russell Thomas "Rusty" Andrews was found stabbed to death at an Alcoholics Anonymous building in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Investigators later connected Drake to that homicide before linking him to the June 2024 killing of Philip Emerson in El Reno. Prosecutors allege Drake stole Emerson's vehicle as he continued traveling east through Oklahoma.

Days later, investigators say Drake arrived at LaFerry's Propane in Sequoyah County, where Tara Underwood and Taylor Sharp were fatally shot during another alleged attempt to obtain a different vehicle.

The double homicide sparked a massive multi-state manhunt involving law enforcement agencies across Oklahoma and Arkansas. Authorities eventually located Drake near Morrilton, Arkansas, where he was found sleeping in a hammock in a heavily wooded area before being taken into custody without incident.

Court Establishes Roadmap Before Trial Begins

Under the court's scheduling order, both sides will continue exchanging evidence, filing legal motions and preparing witnesses during the coming months before the case reaches a jury.

Additional motions are expected in September 2026, followed by another hearing in October, when prosecutors are scheduled to submit their witness and exhibit lists. Victim impact statements from the families of Underwood, Sharp, and Emerson are expected to be filed in January 2027 before jury selection begins on February 1, 2027.

Capital murder cases often require extended pretrial preparation because prosecutors must present evidence supporting the death penalty while defense attorneys conduct extensive investigations into both the facts of the case and potential mitigating circumstances. The court's schedule is intended to ensure both sides have adequate time to prepare before one of Oklahoma's highest-profile murder trials begins.

An arrest and criminal charges are allegations, and Drake is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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