Robert J. "Bob" Troester U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma
A Lawton man, Tevin Terrell Semien, 30, has been sentenced to life in federal prison for second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
The case dates back to May 17, 2023, when Karon “Dinkers” Conneywerdy Smith, 68, was found dead in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Investigators discovered evidence of a violent struggle at Smith's home located within Indian Country and noted that Smith's vehicle was missing. On May 21, 2023, Texas law enforcement spotted the vehicle south of Dallas. A high-speed chase ensued, ending with the vehicle crashing into a lake. Semien and Nicole Leigh Logsdon attempted to flee on foot but were captured.
A federal grand jury indicted Semien and Logsdon on October 17, 2023. Semien faced charges including first-degree premeditated murder and illegal firearm possession after a prior felony conviction. Logsdon was charged as an accessory after the fact to murder.
Semien pleaded guilty on April 22, 2024, admitting to intentionally killing Smith. Logsdon also pleaded guilty on January 10, 2024, acknowledging her role in aiding Semien to evade arrest and prosecution. She received a sentence of 96 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on July 15, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Semien on February 3, 2025. In his remarks during sentencing, Judge Friot described the crime as an "unfathomably cruel and depraved murder" and referenced Semien’s criminal history which includes prior felony convictions for burglary in Jefferson County, Texas and conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary in Comanche County.
The case is federally prosecuted because both Smith and Logsdon are enrolled members of the Comanche Nation and the incident occurred within Indian Country.
This investigation involved multiple agencies including FBI field offices from Oklahoma City, Dallas, and New Orleans; the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Comanche Nation Police Department; Comanche County Sheriff’s Office; Lawton Police Department; U.S. Marshals Service; Rice Police Department; and Navarro County Sheriff’s Office.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaleigh Blackwell along with Trial Attorney Mark Stoneman prosecuted this case as part of the Department of Justice’s efforts concerning Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons.
Further details can be found through public records.
