Dye facing manslaughter charge

A Fort Smith man is charged with felony first-degree manslaughter after he reportedly ran over another man in the front yard of his residence last month.

Roy D. Dye, 52, was charged August 1 in Sequoyah County District Court and a warrant was issued for his arrest the same day, according to court records. He received a $15,000 bond and is now scheduled to appear before Associate District Judge Kyle Waters for an August 30 felony disposition docket.

Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Investigator Gene Wheat reported on July 22 that Dye reportedly discovered Gregory’s body in his front yard on E. 1099 near Muldrow, and that Gregory had allegedly been ran over by a vehicle.

Wheat said Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Sequoyah County Deputy Daniel Whitus and Pafford EMS responded where emergency personnel pronounced Gregory deceased at the scene, according to the probable cause affidavit filed in the case.

Wheat said Oklahoma Highway Patrol crime scene investigator Tim Parrish worked the crime as a possible motor vehicle accident, and evidence revealed a vehicle owned by Dye was reportedly involved in Gregory’s death.

According to the affidavit, Dye’s vehicle was found at a residence around 300 yards north of where the incident occurred, and OSBI crime scene analyst John Grisham found evidence on the undercarriage of it.

After interviews were conducted with Dye and crime scene evidence was taken from the vehicle, it was determined Dye was a person of interest.

On July 25, Wheat traveled to Westville to interview Dye about the incident, where Dye reportedly confessed to running over Gregory with his vehicle.

Dye stated “he was very drunk and couldn’t remember all that happened in the evening or following morning, because of his alcohol consumption.”

“Dye stated that he last remembered he had been driving his vehicle, and he had drank a full gallon of vodka that day,” Wheat reported. “On several occasions during the interview, Dye was very distraught, stating it was an accident and that “he would never drink again.”” Wheat said at the scene, someone had placed a half gallon bottle of vodka between Gregory’s legs. He said Gregory’s body was found lying face down, with no indication he had survived the incident.

“Gregory’s body had several cuts, scrapes and burns from the vehicle passing over his body,” Wheat reported. “There were buff marks and blood residue under the vehicle owned by Dye, which was the same vehicle that witnesses had seen Dye driving hours before.”

The vehicle had been removed from the property to another residence approximately 300 yards north. In the driver’s seat, another half gallon of vodka was found placed in an upright position.

A witness told authorities Dye and Wilson had gotten into an argument on July 21, and he’d heard the two arguing. Two other witnesses claimed Dye was at their residence and appeared to be intoxicated just hours before the incident occurred. They said when Dye left the residence, he was driving “crazy.”

Dye also reportedly told the investigator no one drives his vehicle, except for himself.

Wheat reported Dye, while driving intoxicated, ran over and killed Gregory and that Dye claimed the incident was accidental. He said evidence and witness statements indicated that Dye made efforts to cover up killing Gregory by being untruthful, placing evidence and attempting to hide the vehicle from investigators.

If found guilty of the crime, District Attorney Jack Thorp said it is punishable by imprisonment for not less than four years.