Cleveland County DA: Murder Suspect Fits Profile Of Serial Killer

NORMAN, Oklahoma - Cleveland County prosecutors have formally charged two men with first-degree murder in the death of 80-year-old Clair Owen Pollard.

Prosecutors say Billy Battenfield, 58, and Brandon Reed, 19, killed Pollard in his home in November. Both men have long criminal records. Battenfield was convicted of two murders in Collin County, Texas, and a third murder in New Mexico. He was also charged with rape, assault and robbery in three other states.

In the past, Reed has been charged with burglary, arson, drug possession and animal cruelty.

Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn says Battenfield fits the profile of a serial killer. He says Pollard's death was brutal. The elderly man died of blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds. Mashburn says he has not decided yet if he will seek the death penalty.

"First of all, you have to have some kind of aggravated circumstances that elevate this to a death penalty case," said Mashburn. "And you know that from the crime scene from this particular case, and then you start looking into his history. And again, we're doing the research into all that, talking to the detectives. And then you have to sit down with the family."

Court documents reveal Reed told police that Battenfield participated in the assault using multiple weapons over an hour-long period.

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