Incident Summary

On November 19,1976, Don Sowma my husband and father of our four children was shot and murdered in the line of duty as a Police Officer for the City of Cypress. Don was killed by Bobby Joe Denney of Ardmore Oklahoma, Denney was himself a former police officer from Healdton Oklahoma and his father, now deceased was a longtime County Sheriff. During a burglary, Denney dropped his gun from his waistband when he heard police outside, he crawled to the gun and found it and shot my husband as he entered the dark room.

When Don was murdered we had four children Mike, Jack, Donna and Jimmy who ranged in age between 12-21. We were waiting for your first grandchild. A grandchild he never saw, now we have four grandchildren and three great grandchildren the impact of this crime on our family has been devastating ,there is so much gone forever!

Bobby Joe Denney was found guilty of murdering Don and was sentenced to State prison. But in 1993 without our knowledge he was transferred from a California state prison to Harp Correctional Center in Lexington, Oklahoma at the request of his parents so he would be closer and they could visit. It is an injustice that a transfer took place .It is an injustice for me and my children and grandchildren. We visit Don at the cemetery. Bobby Joe Denney has served 31 years in prison and is 66 yrs old; he is eligible for parole in September 2008.

Bobby Joe Denney was recently transferred back to the California state prison system.  He is currently serving his sentence at Wasco State Prison.  Denney requested the transfer in an attempt to parole in September 2008.

Bobby Joe Denney made a deliberate choice to find his gun and murder a police officer, a husband and the father of four children.  Please honor my husband by signing this petition and keep Denney in prison. He is a cold-blooded killer who is a danger to all of us and especially to every police officer. He should never be paroled from prison.
 

Sincerely,
Colleen Sowma