A nearly 30-year-old Seminole County cold case has been partially resolved with a guilty plea by a woman who played a role in the murder of her great aunt.

District Attorney Erik Johnson announced Wednesday that Dakota Davis, 46, pled guilty to Accessory After the Fact to Murder in the First Degree in connection with the 1997 homicide of Gerthie Carolina, 81, who was murdered in her home in Sasakwa.

Carolina was found deceased on August 11, 1997 by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) was requested to assist with the investigation. OSBI special agents collected information from the scene and Carolina was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further evaluation. The autopsy revealed that Carolina’s cause of death was multiple stab and incised wounds, as well as a blunt force injury.

As the investigation progressed, OSBI special agents and local law enforcement continued working to track down those responsible for Carolina’s death. In November 2023, the OSBI obtained additional evidence that was further evaluated and tested. Based on the information gathered, an arrest warrant was issued for Davis and Carolyn Foreman early last year by the Seminole County District Court. Davis is Carolina’s great niece and Foreman is her niece.

Davis was arrested March 3, 2025 in California by OSBI Agents David Gatlin and Francia Thompson and was extradited to Seminole County.

Foreman, 82, was also charged with Murder in the First Degree and Conspiracy. She was arrested last March in Midwest City. The charges against her are pending.

Davis was sentenced to 20 years in the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, with 10 years to be served in custody, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

“This case demonstrates the importance of perseverance in the pursuit of justice. No matter how much time has passed, we remain committed to holding offenders accountable and providing answers to victims’ families. I want to thank the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, especially Agents Gatlin and Thompson, for their dedication and work on this case,” Johnson said. “Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude for the excellent work performed in the OSBI lab, which was critical in bringing this case to justice, including the efforts of OSBI Criminalist Constance Lansdale.