On the morning of November 14, 2022, a 6-year-old boy was fatally shot in a murder/suicide along Highway 147 in Choctaw County, Oklahoma, near Sawyer. According to witnesses and OSBI, 23-year-old Spencer Laine Dillishaw shot 26-year-old Regina Vargus Dillishaw and the 6-year-old boy before turning the gun on himself. The incident began when a semi-truck driver observed Regina and the boy walking away from a car parked along the highway while Spencer remained in the vehicle. Spencer then made a u-turn, collided with the truck, and opened fire. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene; Spencer was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead; and Regina underwent surgery and was expected to survive.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The news article explicitly describes a shooting: "witnesses observed 23-year-old Spencer Laine Dillishaw shoot 26-year-old Regina Vargus Dillishaw and a six-year-old boy before turning the gun on himself." The article also references "a shooting that occurred along Highway 147" and "That's when shots were fired."
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The news article states: "witnesses observed 23-year-old Spencer Laine Dillishaw shoot 26-year-old Regina Vargus Dillishaw and a six-year-old boy before turning the gun on himself." The child was shot, which constitutes an inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
The news article describes a motor vehicle collision: "Spencer, who was still in the vehicle, made a u-turn in front of the truck and collided." While this collision was not the direct cause of the child's death, a motor vehicle crash is explicitly mentioned as part of the incident.
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
The headline and article text explicitly describe this as a murder/suicide: "A six-year-old boy was killed in a murder/suicide in Choctaw County Monday morning." Spencer shot the child and Regina before "turning the gun on himself" and was later pronounced dead.
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Spencer Laine Dillishaw, the perpetrator who shot the 6-year-old boy, was married to Regina Vargus Dillishaw (the child's apparent mother, as evidenced by the child being with her). However, the text does not explicitly identify Spencer as the biological father of the 6-year-old. The article notes "An eight-month-old child of the Dillishaw's" (belonging to both) and "Another child belonging to Regina" (in Texas with family, suggesting a prior relationship). Whether the 6-year-old is Spencer's biological child or a stepchild is unclear from the text.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Spencer Laine Dillishaw shot the 6-year-old boy. While Spencer is married to the child's mother Regina, the text separately references "Another child belonging to Regina" (located in Texas with family), suggesting Regina had children from a prior relationship. Given Spencer's age (23) relative to the child's age (6), it is possible Spencer was a stepfather to the 6-year-old rather than the biological father. However, this is not confirmed in the text.
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The article describes Spencer Laine Dillishaw shooting his wife Regina Vargus Dillishaw and the 6-year-old boy, then killing himself. The text also describes Regina and the boy "walking away from the car" while Spencer remained in the vehicle before he made a u-turn, collided with a truck, and then opened fire. This sequence — a wife and child fleeing, followed by a pursuit and shooting — strongly implies a domestic violence incident, even though the text does not use the term explicitly.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The news article provides several notable details not addressed by the preceding questions. First, a semi-truck driver witnessed the entire sequence of events, including the collision and shooting, and was driving for RK Hall Construction. Second, the article notes that "An eight-month-old child of the Dillishaw's was located safe at the Dillishaw residence and is in the care of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services" and "Another child belonging to Regina was located safe with family members in Texas," indicating DHS involvement and the presence of multiple children in the family unit. The circumstances suggest the victims (Regina and the child) were attempting to flee on foot along the highway when they were pursued and shot.
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