Key facts
- Social media influencer Sara Gilson was found dead after accusing her husband, Jeremiah Duffy, of child sexual abuse.
- Police suspect Duffy killed Gilson and then committed suicide.
- Gilson's ex-husband, Lyle Landers, stated she felt trapped in an abusive relationship with Duffy.
- Gilson had filed multiple protective orders against Duffy, one of which was granted this month.
- Duffy was also accused of inappropriate conduct with a minor in a separate case.
- Law enforcement agencies attempted to locate Duffy before his death.
Sara Gilson, a social media influencer who had publicly accused her husband, Jeremiah Duffy, of child sexual abuse, was found dead in her Oklahoma home alongside Duffy, who police suspect killed her before taking his own life. Gilson's ex-husband, Lyle Landers, told People that Gilson "couldn't seem to get away" from Duffy, describing her as being "stuck in a relationship where domestic abuse seemed ‘OK’" and that he had urged her for years to leave him.
Court records indicate Gilson filed for protective orders twice in 2021, which were dismissed after she did not appear in court. She was granted a protective order against Duffy earlier this month, in which the judge ordered him to stay at least 100 yards away from her and her home. Gilson had stated in her application that Duffy had threatened suicide and possessed a firearm.
In a separate case, the mother of a 15-year-old girl sought a protective order against Duffy, alleging he was seen kissing and inappropriately touching her daughter. The mother also stated Duffy sent the teen inappropriate text messages and offered her money to conceal his behavior. Police noted similar conduct by Duffy towards another juvenile player had been reported in multiple jurisdictions prior to this incident.
Owasso police referred the investigation into the alleged lewd behavior toward a minor to the US attorney’s office in Tulsa due to jurisdictional issues on tribal land. Law enforcement agencies had attempted to locate Duffy using cellphone data and drones in the 24 hours preceding the discovery of the bodies, but he evaded capture.