Full Notification

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHOCTAW COUNTY, Okla. (September 2, 2022) – On August 31, 2022, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) received a request from the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office to investigate an in-custody death of Charles Gilliland, 64.

On August 18, 2022, Gilliland was assaulted by two Choctaw County Inmates also being held at the Choctaw County Jail. As a result of the assault Gilliland was transported by EMS to the Choctaw Memorial Hospital in Hugo, Oklahoma and then med flighted to an Oklahoma City hospital. Gilliland was treated and released back to the Choctaw County Jail.

Since Gilliland’s return to the jail, he was being held in an isolated cell by himself. During the evening hours of August 31, 2022, Gilliland possibly suffered a medical emergency and stopped breathing. Life saving measures were attempted however efforts to revive him were unsuccessful to revive. Gilliland was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Tulsa for an autopsy.

Gilliland was being held for First Degree Murder in the death of Kevin Roberson that occurred in Boswell, Oklahoma on January 22, 2022.

At the conclusion of the OSBI investigation a full report will be delivered to the prosecuting authority that has jurisdiction depending on the suspect’s tribal membership. If it is determined that the August 18 assault contributed to Gilliland’s death and results in charges being filed, the names of the inmates involved will be released at that time.