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A MURDER suspect in a 14-year-old cold case shot himself in the head during a live video call with investigators.
The shocking incident unfolded as Oklahoma City police tried to question him again about the 2010 killing of a mom found beaten and stuffed in a closet.
Michael Wayne Thomas, 54, had long been a person of interest in the death of 34-year-old Julie Mitchell.
The mom-of-four was found dead inside her Oklahoma City home with her one-year-old daughter sitting beside her body.
About $30,000 was missing from a safe in the master bedroom closet where her body was discovered.
Her husband, Teddy Mitchell, was out of town on a flight to California at the time.
Thomas was closely tied to Mitchell through high-stakes poker games and gambling debts.
Police and the FBI had interviewed Thomas multiple times in the past, but he always denied involvement.
His checkbook was found in the Mitchell home, and he had helped insure the family’s cars and properties.
He also gave Mitchell partial ownership of his insurance business to help pay off large gambling debts.
On Saturday, cops tried to question Thomas again, this time via a virtual call with his attorney present.
Authorities said Thomas first agreed to meet in person, then changed his mind and requested a Zoom call instead.
“As shocking and horrific as you can imagine,” his attorney Ed Blau told The Oklahoman after witnessing the suicide.
The call began at 10 am and lasted roughly 40 minutes, during which police said Thomas dominated the conversation.
“He didn’t give me an opportunity to ask him any questions,” Detective Bryn Carter told CBS affiliate KWTV-9.
“He controlled the conversation from start to finish,” Carter said.
Julie Mitchell Murder: What to Know
- Julie Mitchell, 34, was found beaten to death in her Oklahoma City home in 2010.
- Her 1-year-old daughter was found sitting next to her body.
- Around $30,000 was missing from a safe in the closet.
- Her husband, Teddy Mitchell, was on a flight to California at the time.
- The case exposed his illegal gambling ring – he later served 27 months in prison.
- Michael Thomas, an insurance agent and gambling associate of Teddy, became a key person of interest.
- His checkbook was found in the house.
- He denied any role in the killing but stayed on police radar.
- On May 31, 2025, Thomas shot himself during a Zoom interview with police.
- He died near a Kansas casino.
- The case remains open.
“I’m just worried about my daughter’s safety. I really hope you solve the case,” Thomas said, just before pulling out a gun.
He then shot himself on camera as stunned detectives and his lawyer watched helplessly.
“The phone landed right by his head so we got to hear him die, hear the death rattle,” Blau said.
Thomas’ body was found outside the Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane, Kansas.
His lawyer said he didn’t even know Thomas was in Kansas until after his death.
Julie’s death had exposed her husband’s illegal sports betting and underground poker operation.
Teddy was later sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for money laundering and forfeited $1 million in assets.
He has never been charged in his wife’s murder and maintains he had no role in her death.
“We’ve always said this was an old case. Never a cold case” said Carter.
“It speaks volumes that maybe he couldn’t answer those questions.”
The Oklahoma City Police Department confirmed to The U.S. Sun that Michael Thomas was a person of interest in the case.
They said the interview is not considered an open record and will not be released.
There are currently no further updates in the investigation.
Police say Thomas remains a suspect despite his death.
