LOGAN TUCKER - 6 yo (2002) - Woodward (W of Enid) OK

October 7, 2010 UPDATE: Remains deemed not human


Rowynn Ricks Woodward News The Woodward News Thu Oct 07, 2010, 10:04 PM CDTWoodward, Okla. — The remains that were discovered in a field by some young hunters near Fort Supply Tuesday have been deemed not human.

Woodward County Sheriff Gary Stanley told The News around 4 p.m. Thursday that he received a report from the State Medical Examiner’s Office that the remains were actually some sort of animal paw.

“They’re not sure what kind it is,” Stanley said, noting that the remains will be sent to the University of Oklahoma for additional analysis.

However, the sheriff said, the remains that were discovered “looked like a human foot to me.”

“There were five sets of bones like a foot’s got,” he said.

However, Stanley said he was told “that it’s got stuff missing so that you can tell that it’s not human.”

Stan Florence, an inspector with the Oklahoma Bureau State of Investigation, also “confirm(ed) it is not human.”

When asked how the ME’s office was able to determine the remains weren’t human, Florence said, “it is my understanding that there are certain components in the bone structure that would make it human and those were not there.

“It was missing human components is probably the best way to put it,” he said.

Woman is convicted of killing missing son


Katherine Rutan is led into court last week for her trial on accusations that she killed her 6-year-old son, Logan Lynn Tucker.

Rutan was found guilty Friday, despite the fact that Logan’s body has not been found. He disappeared in 2002. LYNN L. MARTIN / Alva Review-Courier / AP

October 7, 2010

ALVA (AP) -- A Woods County jury on Friday convicted a woman of first-degree murder in the death of her 6-year-old son, whose body has never been found since his disappearance in 2002.

The panel deliberated for a little more than two hours before finding Katherine Rutan guilty of murdering Logan Tucker. The jury recommended life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Rutan, 32, bowed her head but otherwise remained emotionless as the verdict was read. Her family, including husband Jason Pollard, had no comment as they left the courtroom.

Prosecution supporters embraced.

Rutan, also known as Katherine Pollard, was returned to the Woodward County Jail to await sentencing on Oct. 9. Jurors received the case about 3:30 p.m. after eight days of testimony from witnesses that included Rutan's son Justin Daggett and several of her
former boyfriends.

One boyfriend alleged that Rutan told him she wished she could kill her children and get away with it.

Justin, now 9, recalled for jurors when his mother took him and Logan, his older brother, to some property in a wooded area. He said she left him in the car while she carried Logan toward a house and returned later without him.

Woodward County Sheriff Les Morton, whose office investigated the case, said he was elated with the verdict.

"It's great, especially after all the work everyone put into this," Morton said. "But it's only half over for us. We still have to find Logan."

Investigator Butch Hutchens said he was expecting the guilty verdict but was surprised at how quickly it was reached. He said he doesn't know whether Rutan will ever reveal Logan's whereabouts.

"Her mother told us once that she would tell us where he was if it could benefit her and only if it could benefit her," he said.

Prosecutor Chris Ross told jurors that Rutan viewed her children as an inconvenience and a threat to her relationship with her boyfriend at the time, Michael Pettey.

"The two most important people to her were Pettey and (roommate Melody) Lennington," he said. "She wanted to be with Pettey, and she was living with Lennington. . . . Logan was the reason she was having to move out of Melody Lennington's house."

Lennington testified that on June 19, 2002, she found Logan and Justin playing with matches and cigarettes.

Pettey also testified that he told Rutan she couldn't stay with him because of Logan.

Prosecutors believe that late on June 23, 2002, Rutan killed Logan and put his body in Lennington's basement. Lennington has said that on that night she heard Logan cry out about 3 a.m. and that Rutan said he was sick. Three hours later, Lennington testified, Rutan was still awake and said Logan was sleeping in the basement.

"From the time Melody Lennington left for work until noon, Rutan was the only adult in that house, and by that time Logan was gone." Ross said. "He's never seen again."

In his closing arguments, public defender Larry Jordan said, "Truth of the matter is, most parents at some point in time are selfish. "I submit they've proved she's a liar," he said. "They may have proved she made bad decisions. . . . But "we're here to prove that she committed a crime. I just don't think they've got there."

They got there.

Oct. 10--ALVA -- Convicted murderer Katherine Rutan sat silent and expressionless as the judge announced her fate Tuesday.

She was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing her 6-year-old son, Logan Tucker. For Rutan's family, her reaction was harder to accept than the sentence itself.

"There was no remorse, no reaction, no tears, no nothing," said Don Henson, who is married to one of Logan's grandmothers, Connie Henson.

"She just sat there."

Adjudicated.