Valentine’s Day in 2001 was supposed to be a day of roses and expensive dinners for the wealthy elite in Oklahoma City. Instead, it became the start of a decades-long legal nightmare. If you’re searching for a dr john hamilton obituary oklahoma, you’re probably finding a mix of confusing death notices and true crime archives.
There’s a reason for that.
Dr. John Hamilton didn't die in 2001, but his reputation did. His wife, Susan Hamilton, was the one who lost her life in their Quail Creek home. However, as of early 2026, there’s been a massive surge in interest regarding John’s status because of new moves by the Oklahoma Innocence Project.
The Day Everything Shattered in Quail Creek
The scene was gruesome. Susan Hamilton was found in the master bathroom. She had been beaten and strangled. Her husband, a prominent OBGYN who operated a lucrative clinic, claimed he found her that way after returning from a morning surgery at Mercy Medical Center.
Police didn't buy it. Not for a second.
They arrested him within seven hours. The "perfect" life in one of Oklahoma City's wealthiest neighborhoods was stripped bare. Prosecutors painted a picture of a man leaden with secrets—extramarital affairs, a crumbling marriage, and a chillingly tight timeline.
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Why People Are Searching for an Obituary Now
Searching for a dr john hamilton obituary oklahoma often leads to a dead end because the doctor is technically still alive, though he has spent over two decades behind bars. He was sentenced to life without parole in December 2001.
But here is the twist.
In late 2025, the Oklahoma Innocence Project officially took up his case. They aren't just saying he's a "nice guy." They are attacking the very science that put him there.
The original conviction leaned heavily on two things:
- The Timeline: Prosecutors argued he killed Susan, cleaned up, and performed a second surgery within a 45-minute window.
- Blood Spatter: Experts at the time claimed blood on his shirt and shoes proved he was the attacker.
Honestly, the timeline is what gets most people. His medical partners at the time couldn't fathom a surgeon walking out of a bloody crime scene and straight into a sterile operating room to remove a tumor without anyone noticing a tremor in his hands.
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The Problem with the 2001 Evidence
Andrea Miller, the legal director for the Oklahoma Innocence Project, recently pointed out that blood spatter analysis has changed drastically in 24 years. It’s not the "ironclad" science it used to be. Back in the day, the jury was told the blood on Hamilton’s sleeve had to come from him striking his wife.
Today? Experts are less certain.
There’s also the matter of a 2013 Oklahoma law. It allows for DNA retesting if there’s a chance it could change the outcome of a trial. The Innocence Project is betting that modern technology will show a different story than what the 2001 jury saw.
The "Other" John Hamiltons
If you actually found an obituary for a John Hamilton in Oklahoma recently, you likely found one for a different man. For example, a Dr. John L. Hamilton passed away in April 2023. He was a beloved professor who worked at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
It’s easy to get them mixed up. One was a man of "integrity" (according to his colleagues), while the other is one of Oklahoma’s most notorious convicted killers.
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What’s Next for the Case?
If you're following the dr john hamilton obituary oklahoma search because you're interested in justice or true crime, keep your eyes on the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals.
The push for a new trial is gaining steam. It’s a messy, complicated situation. On one hand, you have the Shibley family (Susan’s family) who have lived with this "closure" for over twenty years. On the other, you have a 70-something-year-old man who has maintained his innocence since the moment he was handcuffed in his kitchen.
Actionable Steps for Following the Case:
- Check the Oklahoma DOC Inmate Search: Use his name or DOC number to verify his current location and status.
- Follow the Oklahoma Innocence Project: They provide updates on cases they have officially accepted for review.
- Monitor the OCCA (Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals) portal: Any new filings regarding DNA retesting or evidentiary hearings will appear there first.
Whether he is eventually exonerated or dies in prison, the story of John and Susan Hamilton remains one of the most haunting chapters in Oklahoma legal history. It basically serves as a reminder that science evolves, but the pain of a tragedy like this stays static.