Geronimo Bank Robbery

There is a little town in Oklahoma called Geronimo. Just like the Indian Warrior. Yes, I know. I either find ones I cannot pronounce, or I find ones that sound like they were made up for a 1970’s cop show. I can assure you that Geronimo is a real town. Just a little southeast of Lawton, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is rich in these little towns and odd histories.

It was December 14th, 1984, Christmas was just 11 days away. Everyone was shopping, the little town was happy with a lively kind of festivity in the air. Decorations were up for all eyes to see in shop windows and the cafes. There was egg nog at the grocery store, children were excited as they impatiently waited for Christmas and Christmas Vacation to arrive.

It was the 1980’s and that meant Christmas Clubs. Put a little into a special savings account till time around Christmas to go shopping. Customers of the First Bank of Chattanooga at Geronimo have opened such accounts.

Pam Mathews had an account for her Christmas fund and was on her way into the bank when she stumbled upon a gruesome scene. She ran for help as she realized the kind of cruelness inflicted upon these victims.

The victims: Kay Bruno was the bank manager, Jerri Bowles, a bank employee, along with Joyce Mullenix, another bank employee, and her unborn child. Had been brutally shot and left lying for those who came into see the carenage.

There was also one bank customer who was murdered and that was Ralph Zeller, a well-loved local farmer. The community was so upset at his murder that a town of 800 turned out for the man’s funeral. The town was about fifty percent related at the time. They weren’t a large town, two grocery stores, a few hair salons, two cafes, a garage, and one bank. This rocked it at its core, and to top it off, Joyce Mullenix was the wife of the local high school football coach.

There were 3 other customers shot in the head: Bellen and Reuben Robles, and Marillyn Roach. Mrs. Roach survived the shot, barely, spending much time in intensive care. Worked at the care next door. She had just gotten off work. She went over to the back to make a deposit when she walked in on the robbery.

The Robles couple also survived the shots to the head. They were shot in the back of the head with a small caliber, mostly likely a .22. The 14-month-old daughter of Robles was to be the last victim of the Robber that day, if the gun had not gone empty. Devine intervention? I don’t care; it saved her life.

During the surgery to removed the bullet, which had not penetrated her skull, from the 15-year-old mother’s head, they also discovered she was 3 weeks pregnant. Another reason for her to live. She also stated this in an article she gave an interview for in the Okmulgee Daily Times.

Shortly after the robbers left, another customer entered the bank and found the victims. This customer left to get help immediately. Remember, Friends, this was the days before cellular phones were a common thing for common folk. So, the bank filled with people to help. They took little, crying Juanita Robles next door to the café so that she was looking at all the death. Mother and father went to the hospital where they were treated and released. They quickly reunited with their beautiful little girl.

This robbery all started a few days earlier, the plans were set in motion because of the reaction to a phone call. Mrs. Bruno, as a bank manager, had done her duty and left a message for Jay Wesly Neill at work. His loan was due and he needed to pay. It was the 1980’s and messages were left for you at home, at work, with your best friend, anyone you put down as a reference to getting a loan. The banks’ way of getting their money back. It wasn’t good or bad business in this case; it just happened to be the catalyst for the actions taken.

Neill was quoted as saying, “That bitch had better lay off me.” This was witnessed by one of his co-workers who watched Neill read the message. With this, the ball was rolling with a little anger, a whole lot of hate for the bank and I’m guessing for Mrs. Bruno personally.

Neill took a few days to discuss his anger fueled plan with is lover, Robert Grady Johnson. Johnson was unemployed at the time; they were $400 behind in rent and another $7,000 in debt. It was evident that this call was the linchpin to break Neill.

On the clear day in December, Jay Wesley Neill was seen going into the bank around 1:00 PM. Witnesses were fuzzy about the facts concerning Robert Grady Johnson and his participation in the robbery and murder. The lovers escaped with $17,000. In today’s money that would be about $53,000. It’s not a lot of purchasing power, Friends. It’s about enough to put a nice down payment on a home. Not enough to do much else with, in the reality we currently live, my friends. Now these two weren’t thinking very smartly and ran to a place where they were to be stereotyped. The two ran all the way to San Francisco, California. The FBI tracked the two down. They were returned to Oklahoma for trial.

My Friends, both were tried and received he death penalty. Jay Wesley Neill went on to appeal and lose, he was executed December 12th, 2002. Robert Grady Johnson was able to fight the death penalty. He received a new trial and was sentenced to life without parole.