Officials to seek death penalty in Stillwater case

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) – A Payne County prosecutor says she will seek the death penalty for a 21-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 19-year-old man who was nearly decapitated.

District Attorney Laura Austin Thomas filed papers in state district court Monday stating she will seek the death penalty for Isaiah Marin of Stillwater. Marin is accused of attacking Jacob Andrew Crockett on Oct. 29. Stillwater police say in an affidavit that Crockett had multiple stab wounds and that his head was "mostly severed" from his body.

The prosecutor alleges the attack warrants the death penalty because it was especially heinous, atrocious and cruel, Marin created a risk of death to more than one person and he represents a continuing threat to society because he could commit other violent acts.