Wilburton Woman Sentenced in Murder Case of Mother

Wilburton Murder Case Ends With 60-Year Federal Sentence

The murder case involving a Wilburton woman who admitted to killing her mother has resulted in a 60-year prison sentence, closing one of the most disturbing homicide investigations in southeast Oklahoma.

Prosecutors say 51-year-old Tracy Ann Mannon confessed to killing 75-year-old Linda Barnes inside their Wilburton home, a crime that was prosecuted federally because it occurred in Indian Country, placing jurisdiction with the U.S. Department of Justice.

Graphic Details Emerged in the Murder Case

Court documents describe a scene that shocked even veteran investigators. Police were called to the residence where they found Mannon washing dishes while Barnes’ body lay nearby.

Mannon told investigators she pushed Barnes out a back door, then used both a vacuum cleaner and a knife in the assault. She admitted she attempted to dismember the body afterward but stopped when the knife became too dull.These details were taken directly from Mannon’s signed plea agreement and the federal affidavit.

Because of prior violent behavior documented in earlier police records, the case drew heightened attention from the community and tribal authorities.

Federal Court Imposes Lengthy Sentence

Mannon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, avoiding a first-degree charge but still receiving a lengthy federal sentence. In Indian Country homicide cases, federal sentences do not allow for early release beyond limited good-time credits, meaning Mannon will likely spend the remainder of her life in custody.

This murder case brought federal prosecutors, Choctaw Nation investigators, and the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office together to coordinate interviews, evidence collection, and jurisdictional authority.

The small community of Wilburton continues to process the case, which family members described in court as "devastating" and "unimaginable."

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