Lawton Pair Charged with Murder and Accessory to Murder After Native American Woman's Body is Found in Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

OKLAHOMA CITY – Last week, a four-count Indictment was unsealed charging TEVIN TERRELL SEMIEN, 29, and MAKAYLA NICOLE LEIGH LOGSDON, 24, both of Lawton, in connection with the death of a Comanche Nation woman found in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

The Indictment charges Semien with one count of first-degree premeditated murder, one alternative count of second-degree murder, and one count of illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction. The Indictment charges Logsdon with one count of accessory after the fact to murder.

Semien was arraigned on October 18, 2023.  Logsdon was arraigned on October 23, 2023.  Both pleaded not guilty and are detained in federal custody pending trial.

According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint against Semien, On May 17, 2023, a woman was found dead in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Investigators searched the woman’s home within Indian Country, where they observed blood consistent with a violent struggle. The victim’s vehicle was missing as well. On May 21, 2023, Texas law enforcement observed the victim’s vehicle driving south of Dallas, Texas. Officers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the vehicle fled at a high speed, eventually crashing into a lake. The two occupants of the vehicle, later identified as Semien and Logsdon, attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended.

If found guilty, Semien faces up to life imprisonment in federal prison.  Logsdon faces up to 15 years in federal prison if found guilty. 

This case is in federal court because the victim and Logsdon are enrolled members of the Comanche Nation and the murder occurred within Indian Country.

This case is a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Oklahoma City, Dallas, and New Orleans field offices; the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Comanche Nation Police Department; the Comanche County Sheriff’s Office; the Lawton Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Rice, Texas, Police Department; and the Navarro County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark R. Stoneman and Allison Christian are prosecuting this case. 

The case furthers the Department of Justice’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons efforts to address violence against Native American individuals.  More information about this initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip. 

The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that Semien and Logsdon are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

Reference is made to public filings for more information.