The 12 months is coming to an finish, and 2023 has been one for the books.
Nearly each a part of Oklahoma had its share of weird information this 12 months, with headlines which may make you do a double take (or say, “solely in Oklahoma…”).
From meth in McMuffins, to homicide victims haunting their killers, legislators beginning bodily fights and $100k in stolen Dr. Pepper, we curated a listing of 10 “bizarre” Oklahoma information tales from 2023.
Here is a recap of 2023’s only-in-Oklahoma moments, which highlights tales coated by reporters throughout the USA TODAY community.
Python terrorizing OKC trailer park wasn’t precisely consuming cats
A snake that had allegedly been dwelling off of neighborhood cats in an Oklahoma Metropolis trailer park was caught in October after months of looking.
The pet python had been on the unfastened close to the Burntwood cell house group for about 6 months, and residents had been voicing security considerations with an elementary faculty close by.
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McMethwich: Police discover medicine hidden in Oklahoma man’s breakfast sandwich
A visitors cease in Catoosa that started with a cracked windshield ended with a K9 discovering a bag of meth hidden inside a breakfast sandwich.
At 3 a.m. on a Saturday in September, police pulled over a 35-year-old man for a visitors violation close to a McDonald’s and smelled marijuana coming from the car.
In accordance with police, a K9 officer situated a coin purse crammed with methamphetamine stuffed inside a half-eaten McDonald’s sausage, egg and cheese McMuffin sandwich.
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Beef between Oklahoma State fraternities leads to lifeless longhorn on campus
In fact the state’s agriculture school and the 2 agriculture fraternities in it discovered themselves with a farm animal carcass on their arms.
A lifeless longhorn carcass was discovered on the garden of Oklahoma State College’s FarmHouse fraternity in December, which occurred to be the day earlier than OSU performed the Texas Longhorns within the Large 12 championship recreation. The animal’s abdomen had been minimize open, and the phrases “(expletive) FH” have been written on its facet.
The early investigation indicated that the animal had died of illness and was transported to campus, and members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity “have crucial details about the acquisition, transportation, and dumping of the animal corpse,” officers stated.
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Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies named Oklahoma’s finest state snack
Anybody passing Exit 51 close to Davis, Oklahoma has noticed the indicators for Arbuckle Mountain Fried Pies, however the delicacies are made and beloved state-wide.
Fried pies have been named the most effective snack in Oklahoma in Might by Meals & Wine of their 2023 record of finest snacks in each state.
For individuals who have but to expertise a fried pie, it is a circle of pie crust – made with lard when you’re fortunate – folded over filling, then freshly fried to order.
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Oklahoma homicide suspects believed sufferer was haunting them, police say
Proof in a homicide case towards a pair consists of their Fb messages about how the sufferer was haunting them, a police detective reported.
A pair was charged in November with first-degree homicide and illegal elimination of a lifeless physique after police claimed they killed the husband’s sister in 2018, hid her physique for years and spent her month-to-month Social Safety incapacity funds on themselves.
Amid the investigation, police found Fb messages between the couple the place they mentioned storing the physique in addition to their perception that the deceased was haunting them.
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Oklahoma legislator (actually) pulled an ‘immunity’ card whereas being arrested for DUI
Oklahoma Metropolis police arrested state Rep. Dean Davis in March as a result of he was suspected of being drunk in public at a well-liked Bricktown bar.
In the course of the change, Davis requested the officer to learn his “Home of Representatives card,” in accordance with the report. He additionally demanded the officer name the Fraternal Order of Police and his superiors.
“Learn the again of that card,” he stated in a police bodycam video. “Learn it what the state regulation says.”
The again of the legislative ID card consists of the textual content of a provision from the state structure that claims members of Congress cannot be arrested throughout a Legislative session on the Capitol. Specialists say the regulation is meant to verify naysayers cannot have a rival arrested earlier than a contentious vote, to not make them untouchable.
After studying the cardboard, the arresting officer advised Davis he was not on the Capitol and that he was nonetheless going to arrest him on grievance of public drunkenness. Town’s chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police launched a press release in assist of the officer’s motion.
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‘Not actual’ viral airplane passenger recognized as OSU grad
The girl behind the viral airplane meltdown the place she proclaimed “that (expletive) again there’s not actual” was recognized as a graduate of Oklahoma State College and Texas advertising and marketing govt.
The weird, expletive-laden meltdown that went viral in July reportedly occurred because the flight was getting ready to depart Dallas-Fort Value Worldwide Airport.
Tiffany Gomas, 38, a Dallas resident and OSU graduate, was kicked off the airplane following her outburst which led to hours of delays for different passengers, experiences the New York Put up.
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Oklahoma senator tries to battle union chief at Senate listening to (once more), Bernie Sanders steps in
Former MMA fighter and U.S. Senator, Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) renewed his feud with Teamsters Union chief Sean O’Brien this fall when he recommended bodily preventing at a Senate listening to.
Late evening TV hosts had a area day with the clip.
One month later, he criticized U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida for “dwelling off (his) daddy’s cash” when Gaetz criticized Mullin’s inventory commerce whereas in Congress.
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Does the Pioneer Lady stay on stolen Osage land depicted in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon?’
“The Pioneer Lady” Ree Drummond made the city of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, well-known by way of her farm way of life model, however a latest social media publish about Martin Scorcese’s 2023 movie is drawing consideration to the darker historical past of the Drummond household’s land.
“Killers of the Flower Moon” premiered in October and relies on David Grann’s finest vendor and has renewed curiosity within the Osage “Reign of Terror,” during which dozens of Osage individuals have been murdered for his or her oil-rich land within the early twentieth century.
Amid the movie’s promotion, Oklahomans realized that the Drummond household started rising wealth by way of Osage dealings and commenced amassing the property that positioned them within the high 100 landowners within the nation.
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Dr. Pepper heist: 3 accused in scheme to steal $100k-worth of soda syrup to resell
Three males are accused of scheming to steal Dr. Pepper syrup from an Oklahoma Metropolis warehouse in October and resell it to a gasoline station.
Authorities say the alleged scheme led to greater than $100,000 in stolen syrup — sufficient for a lot of hundreds of Dr. Pepper drinks.
In Oklahoma County District Court docket, the boys face costs starting from housebreaking and embezzlement to concealing stolen property and conspiracy to commit a felony.
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Bonus: Celebrities in Oklahoma in 2023
Lana Del Rey
Singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey attended the Purple River rivalry recreation Oct. 9 and was seen posing for footage with followers and even hugging OU President Joseph Harroz after the sport. In an Instagram publish, Del Rey wrote “We simply need everybody to have enjoyable – however congratulations OU.”
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner, recognized for her roles in “Alias” and “13 Happening 30” is a co-founder of the natural child meals firm As soon as Upon a Farm. In a Might TikTok video, Garner visited considered one of her suppliers, a farm close to Locust Grove, Oklahoma that has been in her household for almost a century.
Anthony Ramos
“Hamilton” actor Anthony Ramos was seen attending the a efficiency of Lyric Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” in Oklahoma Metropolis this December. Ramos was seemingly in OKC to work on the 2024 blockbuster “Twisters,” which was scheduled to shoot in Midwest Metropolis that weekend.
Mike Rowe
Whereas visiting Oklahoma Metropolis, “Soiled Jobs” star Mike Rowe made a prolonged Fb publish recounting his encounter together with his Lyft driver and celebrated the driving force’s small enterprise. The publish went viral and drove visitors to the person’s customized camper enterprise.
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