NORMAN -- After more than three years of searching for a killer, Cleveland County deputies are asking for help.
Since Dec. 2008, the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department has been investigating the slaying of 31-year-old Cory Jay Bodily of Norman, but they still are searching for answers.
Cleveland County Sheriff's Department Detective Scott Singer, who has been on the case since the beginning, said investigators have narrowed Bodily's death to a 12-hour window, but there is still a two-hour gap that can't be accounted for.
Singer said investigators are hoping to talk to any indvidual who has knowledge where Bodily was between 10 a.m. and noon on July 29, 2008.
Filling in that missing information, Singer said, will help deputies find a suspect and eventually close the case.
"We are always willing to listen to anybody that thinks that they know something," he said. "You never know, small pieces of information that may sound a little crazy on the outside -- it's going to be a small key that turns the lock that opens this. It's not going to be anything big or earth-shattering. It'll be a name, it'll be a car descrpition, it'll be a location, a previous residence -- something. Something small is going to turn this."
Bodily's death was deemed a homicide by "blunt force trauma" by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner, after Bodily's remains were examined and identified in January 2009.
Though Bodily was reported missing by his family on Sept. 20, 2008, he was last seen on July 29, 2008, at the Taco Bell at 2125 W. Lindsey St. picking up a paycheck.
Singer said after Bodily picked up his check from work around 10 a.m., Bodily went to Homeland at 1724 W. Lindsey St. to cash the check. He never reported to work that evening, and didn't return to the apartment he shared with his girlfriend that night.
Because Bodily did not own a vehicle, Singer said they suspect an acquaintence or friend drove Bodily from Taco Bell to Homeland.
Singer said he believes Bodily was killed the day he went missing, and believes whoever was with him from 10 a.m. until noon, knows information that could help solve the case.
Bodily's skull was found Christmas Day 2008, when a dog brought it to a residence in east Noble after digging through a nearby heavily wooded area.
After the family contacted the sheriff, cadavar dogs were brought to the area on Dec. 29 to assist in the search. No progress was made until another bone was discovered in January 2009.
Singer said the dog that made the first discovery eventually lead them back to the rest of Bodily's remains near 180th Avenue and Cemetery Road in January 2009.
"I believe that those same circumstances will help to close this case," he said, referring to the luck detectives had with the dog. "That kind of off-the-wall odd thing, and you just have to keep your mind open that those things are going to come up in a case and then recognize it for what it is."
Progress has been slow, Singer said, but because in-depth investigations were conducted immediately after the discovery of Bodily's remains, including numerous interviews with those who had both positive and negative relationships with Bodily, Singer said he believes the department may have possible suspects -- they just need to connect the dots.
Because of the nature of Bodily's injuries, Singer said detectives believe the suspect is an individual Bodily knew well. They do not believe this was a random crime.
Singer said Bodily had a documented illegal drug history, and believes his death may be related to his drug associations. Investigators do not know if Bodily was under the influence of drugs at the time of his death.
"In a lot of cases it boils down to a simple sighting, some information, something they heard, they may have seen him cashing his check," he said. "He may have called them -- we just haven't found that person yet."
Singer said detectives are hoping to speak to anyone that may have information related to Bodily's disappearance and death.
Copyright 2011 - The Norman Transcript, Okla.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
