Police Reveal New Details in Sunday School Teacher's Murder

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The family of a woman who was brutally murdered in Midwest City said they're grateful the alleged killer was caught so quickly but said it still doesn't ease the pain of losing their loved one to such a violent death.

Twenty-six-year-old Nelly Pelts was killed early Saturday morning after being lured away from a Del City Wal-Mart.

For Cherra Taylor and her family, the last three days have been full of mixed emotions. There is the devastation of realizing Nelly Pelts is gone, but there is also the joy in knowing how many people she touched.

"She was full of kindness and generosity. She never had a bad thing to say about anybody. It's just been amazing. What we already knew, people already saw in her," said Cherra Taylor, Pelts' sister-in-law.

Police said James O'Berry approached Pelts in the Del City Wal-Mart, and they believe she shared her faith with him and wanted to show him where she attended church.

"We feel like he's obviously a predator and has a specific type of person he preys on," said Capt. Brandon Clabes, Midwest City Police.

According to O'Berry and a probable cause affidavit, he claimed he "blacked out" and doesn't remember what happened.

Read the probable cause affidavit

"We were talking about church. I'm a Christian, she's a Christian. I don't know what happened," O'Berry said.

O'Berry told investigators about a troubled past.

"He indicated to our investigators that something bad had happened to him while he was in prison and because of that, he suffered from post traumatic stress disorder," Clabes said.

Court documents also show O'Berry dumped his bloody clothes in a dumpster. Along with his clothes, "sex bindings" were also recovered.

"They'll bring what we call a rape kit to the scene, which could their include weapons, handcuffs, masking tape, gloves, those types of things. So this is not unusual for us to find this type of things," Clabes said.

Meanwhile Pelts' family is just trying to cope with their loss.

"Maybe someday we'll be able to forgive this man to find peace for ourselves, whether he deserves it or not. We know we need to. We know Nelly would want it because that's what God would want," Taylor said.

The State Medical Examiner's Office said Pelts' died of multiple stab wounds.

Pelts' funeral is Saturday afternoon. Her family said they want to especially thank police and the witness who tried to help Pelts.

Pelts' family has set up a memorial fund for Nelly Pelts at any Bank of Oklahoma branch.

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- Sex Offender Arrested for Sunday School Teacher's Murder
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- Man Accused of Killing Sunday School Teacher Suspect in Other Crimes