Nearly fifty years ago, on a quiet winter morning northwest of Kingfisher, Oklahoma, the life of 63-year-old Mary Harrison was violently taken. On January 8, 1977, Mary, born Mary Hoshall, was found murdered in her rural home. The widow was known for her kindness and strength, and she had raised her children on the family farm after the early death of her husband. For two decades she served the community through her work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service in Kingfisher, retiring just two years before her death.
Mary’s daughter, Marjorie, lived with her at the time. Marjorie was well known throughout the county for boarding horses, her involvement in 4H, and for teaching many local children to ride. Those who spent time in their home remember it as a warm, welcoming place filled with the everyday sounds of farm life, friends, and horses.
Mary’s murder was especially brutal, a crime investigators described as a rage killing. Over the years, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas falsely confessed to the crime, and charges were filed, but his confession was later debunked along with many others. The case was left without answers, and for nearly half a century it has remained cold.
Mary Harrison has not been forgotten.
Today, Oklahoma Cold Cases, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of unsolved homicides, missing persons, and unidentified victim cases in Oklahoma, has selected Mary as their 2025 to 2026 Case of the Year. Their mission is simple but urgent: bring Mary’s story back into the public eye and help find the truth before her case reaches its fiftieth year unsolved.
Working closely with the Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office, Oklahoma Cold Cases is gathering information, interviewing Mary’s relatives, and seeking the status of evidence that may still be held by state investigators. Family members have shared stories, photographs, and memories, some joyful and some painful. The trauma from Mary’s murder has rippled through generations, but so has the love they continue to carry for her.
Many people in Kingfisher still remember Mary and Marjorie. They remember the horses, the lessons, and the open door of their home. Oklahoma Cold Cases believes that somewhere, possibly in the community, someone may hold information that could help solve her case. Even the smallest detail could matter.
Their slogan, “silence is betrayal,” reflects a truth Mary’s family has lived with for decades: someone out there knows something.
As the case approaches its fiftieth year, Oklahoma Cold Cases and the Kingfisher County Sheriff’s Office are asking the community to come forward with stories, memories, or information. Those who knew Mary or Marjorie, or who remember life on the Harrison farm, are encouraged to share what they know with the organization. If you want to include their Facebook page, which is where they share all of their cases and updates, it can be found at Oklahoma Cold Cases.
Mary Harrison was more than the way she died. She was a mother, a neighbor, a friend, and a woman who dedicated her life to her family and her community. Keeping her story alive is one step toward bringing justice to her and peace to those who still mourn her.
Information and photos provided by Oklahoma Cold Cases. #JusticeForMaryHarrison
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