A 19-year-old man is facing a felony murder charge in relation to the death of a woman at a Seminole County residence Wednesday evening.

Seminole County Sheriff Anthony Louie said Zachariah Nuckolls was arrested after authorities responded to a call of a burglary in progress at a residence on Highway 59 near Maud. According to Louie, deputies found a deceased woman inside the house as they were investigating the scene. Nuckolls, who was also in the house, was taken into custody and booked into the Seminole County Jail on anticipated charges of first-degree murder. The victim’s name had not been released as of press time.

Because Nuckolls is Native American, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department initially handled the investigation then requested the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) also assisted with the crime scene, according to OSBI spokesperson Hunter McKee. The FBI has reportedly taken the lead in the case since, per the U.S. Supreme Court’s “McGirt” ruling, states do not have the authority to prosecute major crimes involving Native Americans and/or tribal lands. Such crimes are prosecuted federally. (See the story from Gaylord News at the bottom of this page for more details regarding the McGirt decision).

Nuckolls played football for Maud High School. According to MaxPreps, he was a senior in 2025. Thursday morning, the school district seemingly acknowledged the incident in a social media post.

“Maud School community, we have been made aware of a tragic event affecting some of our families in the community. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family during this challenging time. We will have counselors available to support the needs of our students during this time. If you or your child requires assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to help,” Maud Schools administration posted to the district’s Facebook page.

At press time, this remained a developing story. More details will be provided as they become available.