Published: July 31, 2008 09:25 pm      

DA to seek death for Domer murderer

EDMOND — Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said he plans to pursue the death penalty in the murder of an Edmond man authorities believe was targeted because he was gay.

Steven Domer, 62, was last seen alive Oct. 26 in Oklahoma City. His body was found next to his burned car four days later in McClain County.

Police investigating his death later searched a home in McClain County owned by Darrell Lynn Madden, a resident of Washington. Authorities say Madden and his friend, Bradley Qualls, were involved in Domer’s death. In November Madden allegedly shot and killed Qualls in Ardmore.

Prater said Sept. 19 he will file paperwork notifying the court that prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Madden, who earlier was charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in Oklahoma County.

While Oklahoma County prosecutors are planning to purse the death penalty, that could change depending on information received from defense attorneys, Prater said. No attorney of record for Madden was listed on a state court system Web site.

Prater said if the allegations against Madden are true that Domer was sought out and targeted because he was gay then Madden committed an “horrific” crime. Prater said Oklahoma County will prosecute its case independent of the Carter County case.

Last week, Madden reached an agreement with Carter County prosecutors in which he will serve life plus 30 years for the shooting death of Qualls.

Carter County District Attorney Craig Ladd said there are different circumstances in Oklahoma County compared with the case in his county. Ladd said there were aggravated circumstances for the death penalty case in Oklahoma County.

In previous reports published by The Edmond Sun, friends and colleagues of Domer described him as a friendly, personable, intelligent man with a sense of humor.

Police reports have said Domer was either the victim of a white supremacists’ gang initiation or he was targeted because he was last seen in the 39th Street and Penn area of Oklahoma City in the vicinity of several gay bars.

marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108