Oklahoma Man Strangled Wife After She Called Him ‘Pathetic’ and Asked for Divorce, Then Tried to Cover It Up, Police Say
ROGERS COUNTY, OKLAHOMA — A 50-year-old Oklahoma man is behind bars after authorities say he strangled his wife to death during a heated argument after she called him “pathetic” and asked for a divorce, then tried to cover up the killing by driving her body to a nearby hospital.
According to the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, Clifton Wayne Hampton was arrested last week and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Christina Hampton, after investigators determined his story about her “accidental death” was full of contradictions.
Husband Claimed Wife Collapsed — But Injuries Told a Different Story
Police said they were first called to St. Francis Hospital in Vinita around 7:40 a.m. on October 2 after Clifton Hampton brought in his wife’s body, claiming he found her “collapsed” on the side of the road.
Hospital staff quickly noted visible injuries inconsistent with his account — including bleeding from her nose, scrapes on her knees, and marks on her throat, court documents show.
“He shows up with an explanation of her death that is far from the truth,” said Sheriff Scott Walton. “We immediately knocked holes in that story. We were certain this was a homicide.”
Hampton initially denied any violence had occurred but later admitted that he and Christina had argued late into the night about her desire for a divorce.
Confession: ‘I Put My Hands Around Her Throat to Shut Her Up’
After hours of questioning, investigators say Hampton confessed to strangling his wife in bed following a long night of arguments.
He allegedly told detectives that Christina called him “pathetic” and said she and her friends made fun of him, which left him “humiliated and angry.”
“Mr. Hampton became humiliated and angry, and choked the victim while she was lying in bed,” prosecutors wrote in a motion to deny bond.
Hampton reportedly said his intention was to “shut her up”, not kill her, but admitted that she became unresponsive as he tried to move her body.
Attempted Cover-Up
Investigators said Hampton wrapped Christina’s body in a mattress pad, used a green dolly and tarp to drag her outside, and then loaded her into a vehicle to drive to the hospital.
He allegedly told police that he dragged her body because she was “dead weight,” and that her visible injuries came from the attempt to move her.
“He admitted he had taken things too far,” the affidavit reads.
Authorities noted scratch marks on Hampton’s neck, which he claimed came from “roughhousing” with his adult son and dog — another part of his story that quickly unraveled.
Murder Charge Filed, No Bond Granted
Hampton was formally charged with first-degree murder and is being held in the Rogers County Jail without bond.
He is scheduled to appear in court on October 9, according to public records.
If convicted, he faces life in prison.
The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office says this case highlights the deadly escalation of domestic disputes and the importance of seeking help before violence occurs.
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