Rogers County jury finds man guilty of murdering his girlfriend, recommends life without parole

A Rogers County jury found Jericho Haverstick guilty of murdering his 22-year-old girlfriend, Eliza Arthurs, on Thursday.

The jury took just over an hour to deliver a verdict. 

Details of the case 

Authorities said Haverstick called police around 8 p.m. On April 19, 2023, and said she had been shot in the head.

Then waited before calling 911, and dispatchers could hear her gasping for breath.

Rogers County deputies later found Arthurs in a field along 595 road. 

She died one day later.

Haverstick shot her because she didn't want to marry him.

"This is a country girl who had free will and didn't take much from anybody, believe me and he didn't want that. He wanted to be able to tell her what to do, control her. And then, since he couldn't, took her out into that field," said Mike Arthurs, Eliza's father.

Two years without Eliza

Eliza had a fun-loving personality and was a mother to a one-year-old boy. Her father says he will never stop missing her. 

"She just wanted to have some fun. She wanted to laugh. She wanted to go and just have a good time with her family," said Arthurs. 

A guilty verdict 

The jury recommended that Jericho Haverstick go to prison for life without parole. A guilty verdict is what her father wanted, but he doesn't believe true justice comes from a jury; however, he is happy Jericho Haverstick can't hurt anyone else.

Arthurs said, "I don't think Justice is going to happen until judgment day. And my prayer for two years has not been for justice."

Mike Arthur says he forgives Haverstick and plans to tell him so during the sentencing.

"What good is it going to do if I come up there and start yelling at him how much I hate him, he already understands that part, what he don't expect and what he don't understand is huge, I'm going to walk in forgiveness. I'm going to walk in love," said Arthurs.

The Roger's County District Attorney's Office says they will never stop fighting for justice for victims.

"It was so important for this victim's family, for law enforcement, for my office. So, everyone put so much effort, so much time into this, and to see this outcome is just, it's moving. It's inspirational," said Matt Ballard, Rogers County District Attorney's Office. 

A judge will hold Haverstick's sentencing at a later date.

A statement from Haverstick's defense team 

"On behalf of Mr. Haverstick, we are disappointed in the outcome of this trial. While we greatly appreciate the jury's time and attention to this case, we truly feel that the result was far removed from the actual evidence presented by the State. Just an example, the M.E. stated that they did not see any recognizable ant bites which wholly contradicts and undermines a basic fact and testimony of the first responders. Moreover, the statement that you could hear Ms. Arthurs' "panicked" breaths on the 911 call is completely contradictory to the testimony of the Medical Examiner. For those, and many other reasons, we respectfully disagree with the characterization of facts and testimony at trial and anticipate an appeal."