Case+Theory

OKLAHOMA VS. PAULA THROMBOLD

On the night of November 25, 2004 at approximately 6:45 p.m. the Utopia County Sheriff's Office in the city of Harrison, Oklahoma received a 911 call from Taylor Harris reporting gunshots from her neighbor's house at 1313 Crosstimbers Rd. in The Greens. Paula Thrombold and Gavin Wright resided at this house and Harris said they were both home because both of the cars were in the garage. Paula was to be home no later than 5:30 that night to receive a new golf club for Gavin that he wanted to use in a tournament the next day. Paula was a very bright woman who was a partner of Dust Bowl Designs with her friend Bailey Cross. They owned an interior design company. Gavin and Paula had met years before and hit it off. She soon found out Gavin was abusive, controlling, and would be mad then get calm again the next morning. She did not make it in time because she had a meeting to be at and she tried her hardest to make it back. She was worried Gavin would be upset and she called him at work to try and calm him down after calling a few stores and the delivery company who had the club. He was very angry and she knew he had been drinking and he said he was on his way home. When he got home Paula came from upstairs to try and talk to him and he chased her up the stairs threatening her and saying she was "going to get it." Gavin Wright had abused his wife Paula many times before including one event on Thanksgiving where she burnt the pie. He also became angered when she tried to make her own decisions then became calm the next day. He eventually tried to hit her where the bruises would not show up because she had frequent visits to the doctor. He also brought home a gun one evening saying he had finally bought a gift for himself and said she better not act up. She felt intimidated and threatened by this. She filed a complaint for Battery and Assault but Gavin persuaded her that neither one of their businesses needed the hassle so she recanted it in court. On November 25 Gavin Wright ran her up the stairs chasing her, she locked herself in the bathroom with his gun for protection. Wright broke down the door, charged at her and Paula shot at him to protect herself from being harmed. Gavin Wright was found dead laying on the bathroom floor.