Kansas – A man being questioned about a 2010 Oklahoma murder died by suicide during a Zoom call with investigators, according to reports. Michael Wayne Thomas, 54, shot and killed himself on May 31, 2025, while being interviewed by the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) about the unsolved murder of Julie Mitchell.
The Incident
Thomas was a person of interest in the murder of 34-year-old Julie Mitchell, who was found beaten to death in her home in November 2010. Mitchell’s 13-month-old baby was left unharmed beside her, which added to the mystery of the crime. The case remains unsolved to this day. Thomas, who had been questioned multiple times in the years since the murder, had reportedly declined to be interviewed in person for this latest round of questioning, instead opting for a video call.
According to Thomas’s attorney, Ed Blau, the interview began as expected, with Thomas denying any involvement in the murder. The call continued for about 45 minutes before, suddenly, Thomas pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the head, ending his life. Blau, who had represented Thomas since 2012, described the scene as “shocking and horrific,” revealing that he could hear the death rattle over the phone as Thomas died.
Police Reaction
OCPD Master Sergeant Gary Knight confirmed the tragic incident, stating that Thomas had agreed to the interview on the condition that it would be conducted remotely, via Zoom. “Beggars can’t always be choosers,” Knight said, noting that investigators had been desperate to speak with Thomas, as there were still unanswered questions about Mitchell’s murder. The interview was abruptly cut short when Thomas ended his life, leaving police with more questions than answers.
“This is somebody we wanted to talk to, we needed to talk to,” Knight added. “There were questions we needed to have answered by him, but unfortunately, we didn’t get those answers.”
Background on the Case
Julie Mitchell’s husband, Teddy Mitchell, had been away in California at the time of her death and was not considered a suspect. Teddy Mitchell was later convicted in federal court in 2014 for running an illegal gambling operation and was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Authorities found $30,000 missing from a safe in Julie Mitchell’s home, and it was revealed that Thomas’s company checkbook had been found at the Mitchells’ property after the murder. However, Thomas had always denied involvement.
Thomas had been a known associate of Teddy Mitchell, having played poker at his house and provided him with business loans to help pay off gambling debts. Despite being a key figure in the investigation, Thomas had maintained his innocence, telling the Oklahoman in 2012, “I — 100% — did not [do it].”
During the interview with OCPD, Thomas expressed his hope that the case would eventually be solved, but he remained a person of interest as the investigation continued. Knight confirmed that, despite Thomas’s death, the investigation into Julie Mitchell’s murder is ongoing.
Ongoing Investigation
The Oklahoma City Police Department has yet to issue a statement regarding the ongoing investigation following Thomas’s death. Both OCPD and Blau’s law firm did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.
Julie Mitchell’s murder continues to be one of the many unresolved cases in Oklahoma, with new leads yet to emerge despite years of investigation.
