OKC Man Accused of Hiring Handyman to Kill Son-In-Law

By Kirsten McIntyre, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A North Dakota dentist's murder was a contract killing set up by two Oklahoma City men, authorities said.

Investigators arrested 63-year-old Gene Kirkpatrick at his home in northeast Oklahoma City Monday evening. Police said he admitted to paying his handyman, Michael Nakvinda, $3,000 to murder his son-in-law, Philip Gattuso. Kirkpatrick was arrested on conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Read Gene Kirkpatrick's arrest warrant.

Authorities said Kirkpatrick wanted his son-in-law dead because he didn't like the way he was raising Kirkpatrick's grandchild.

North Dakota prosecutors have already filed charges against Nakvinda for Gattuso's murder.

One week ago, Fargo dentist Philip Gattuso was found murdered in his condominium. His home had been ransacked, his Porsche was missing, and according to court documents, he was killed with a hammer.

By Saturday morning, North Dakota and Oklahoma police had surrounded a house in southeast Oklahoma City.

"We actually called for the suspect to come out, and he did without any kind of fanfare. He came out willingly," said Jessica Brown, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson.

There police arrested Michael Nakvinda, an Oklahoma City man with a long criminal history. Prosecutors said after killing Gattuso, Nakvinda loaded up the dentist's Porsche onto a trailer and brought it back to Oklahoma. It was missing until Monday morning when the OSBI got a tip that it was at a metro storage facility.

Read Michael Nakvinda's arrest warrant.

"We went there, actually found the Porsche as well as other items we believe were stolen from Dr. Gattuso's house inside the Porsche," Brown said.

Court documents suggest those other items were various electronic equipment. The car is now being processed for evidence.

"We look for any evidence the suspect may have left behind that would link him to that actual murder. It could be blood, could be finger prints, could be any type of biological evidence as well as physical evidence," Brown said.

Dr. Gattuso once practiced in Edmond before moving to Fargo. His late wife's family is from Oklahoma and may now raise his 3-year-old daughter.

Nakvinda waived extradition Monday morning. He'll likely be taken back to North Dakota to face his charges within the next ten days.

More on News9.com: Man Accused of Killing North Dakota Dentist Arrested in Oklahoma City