PONTOTOC COUNTY, Okla. – Officials say a rap video helped them catch two people accused in the murder of an Oklahoma man.
On Sept. 24, 2015, Jose Cruz Prado, 29, was found shot to death in the travel trailer where he lived, near Ada.
Several months passed and investigators had run out of leads.
But that all changed in Nov. 2015.
According to Ada News, two 14-year-old boys posted a rap video online, where they allegedly made threats to shoot faculty and other students at Byng Junior High School.
The teens were arrested and authorities obtained a warrant to search the home of one of the boys.
Officials say one of those boys lived with 37-year-old Sheila Arles.
When authorities searched Arles’ home, they found a spent 9mm casing under the couch.
Officials tested the casing and found that it matched casings found at the homicide scene.
When authorities questioned Arles about the casing, she allegedly admitted to being involved in Prado’s murder.
According to Ada News, Arles told investigators that she and her son, 18-year-old Ben McIntosh, went to Prado’s home to rob him of his money.
McIntosh told authorities that the three of them got into an argument and he shot Prado.
Arles later allegedly asked 23-year-old Anthony Franklin to help them get rid of the gun used to shoot Prado.
Franklin told authorities he sold the gun to someone in Ada.
Arles and McIntosh was arrested earlier this month and formally charged this week.
McIntosh was formally charged with first-degree murder – deliberate intent, first-degree murder – felony murder, and conspiracy to commit a felony.
His mother, Arles, was charged with first-degree murder – felony murder and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Franklin was arrested on suspicion of accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. However, he has not yet been charged, Ada News reports.
