Oklahoma man arrested on complaint of murder, incest after the death of his sister
DEL CITY ― Police arrested a 27-year-old Del City resident this week on complaints of second-degree murder and incest in the death of his younger sister.
Police say Cody Wayne Garde, 27, confessed to causing the death of Heather Garde, 18.
Heather Garde was taken by family members Sunday to Oklahoma Heart Hospital near SE 74 and Sooner Road, but by the time they arrived at the hospital, she was dead.
“She had really plain-to-see, observable trauma to her head, face, body ― bruising and all that,” said Maj. Mike Arterbury, with the Del City Police Department.
Arterbury said officers detained several family members Sunday at a house off SE 43 Street and took them to the police station for questioning. During interviews, police said they were told Cody and Heather Garde had been having an incestuous relationship for years, another officer wrote in an arrest affidavit Tuesday.
According to the affidavit, a family member also alleged Cody Garde was “very controlling” of Heather Garde, telling police that he insisted she wear certain clothes and makeup.
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While later being interviewed by police Tuesday, Cody Garde said he and Heather Garde were drinking alcohol and doing drugs late Saturday before going to a park near Townsend Elementary School early Sunday.
Cody Garde told police that they had sex at the park. Amid the encounter, he punched her multiple times in the stomach and in the face, telling police that Heather “liked to be hit” but claiming he did not know he was hurting her, the officer wrote in the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Cody Garde said Heather Garde “probably had a brain injury” and carried her back home, where he put an ice pack on her face and then went to sleep.
By the time he woke up, his sister was dead, Cody Garde claimed.
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Tuesday, investigators went to the park near Townsend Elementary School to process the scene. In a message to parents and students Tuesday, Townsend Elementary School principal Heather Dunn confirmed police were conducting an investigation near the school but said “authorities do have a suspect in custody.”
“The incident is not connected to our school or team,” Dunn wrote. Operations at the school continued as scheduled.
Police said they found several items described by Cody Garde in the school’s playground area, including two syringes, shoes, socks, a dog leash and a dog collar.
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Cody Garde was booked into the Oklahoma County jail Tuesday on a complaint of incest and second-degree murder.
The day after his arrest, Cody Garde was supposed to appear in court related to charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and malicious damage of property.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Del City man arrested after sister's death, incest alleged by family
