Oklahoma execution has Southwest Arkansas connection

An Oklahoma execution has a Southwest Arkansas connection.

On Thursday, January 12, the state of Oklahoma executed 62-year-old Scott James Eizember by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, Oklahoma. Eizember was convicted of killing an elderly couple in Oklahoma, but he also kidnapped a Southwest Arkansas couple.

In 2003, Eizember was released from a Tulsa jail and decided to ‘get even’ with his ex-girlfriend for informing the authorities that he had violated a protective order. When he arrived in her hometown of Depew, Oklahoma, he noticed an elderly couple leaving their house, which was across from his ex-girlfriend’s home.

Eizember broke into the home of A.J. And Patsy Cantrell. When the couple returned home, Eizember was in their home and pointing a gun at them. Eventually, A.J. Cantrell grabbed the gun and shot Eizember in the hand, but the bullet also struck and killed his wife, Patsy. Eizember took the gun away from A.J and proceeded to beat him to death.

Later than same evening, Eizember would shoot his ex-girlfriend’s son twice and beat his grandmother.

Eizember hitched a ride out of town and was picked up by a driver, who was later shot.

Over the next 11-days, Eizember evaded police and got out of Depew by stealing a car. When the car ran out of gas, he began hitch-hiking again. And, that is when he was picked up by Dr. Sam Peebles and his wife, Suzanne.

The Peebles’ were held at gun point and forced to drive Eizember to Texas. After 6 and a half hours, during a roadside break, Dr. Peebles pulled his revolver and shot Eizember. Eizember beat Dr. Peebles and tried to shoot Suzanne, but the gun misfired. Eizember struck Suzanne in the head and ran off.

A clerk at a nearby convenience store heard the gun fire and contacted the police. Eizember was arrested by authorities in Texas and then transferred to Oklahoma.

Eizember was found guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, shooting with intent to kill and first-degree burglary.

Dr. Peebles told Southwest Arkansas Radio that he and Suzanne were glad the ordeal is finally over.