08/10/2026
District Attorney Dan Jacobsma announced that on August 4, 2026, Samantha Powell plead guilty to First Degree Murder and Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the death of Debra Houtchens. Powell was sentenced to Life with 20 years to serve and the balance suspended.
The plea and sentence provide accountability, certainty and a final resolution after a lengthy investigation conducted by District III Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force.
However, no sentence can restore the life that was taken or erase the pain carried by Houtchens’s family and loved ones.
This case was about Houtchens, her life, the people who loved her and the future she will never have.
The District III Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force will not tolerate individuals who choose to sell illegal dangerous drugs and though their action, contribute to the death of another person.
Drug dealers who knowingly distribute controlled substances that result in serious injury or death, will be fully investigated and held accountable allowed by law. These cases will be pursued professionally, regardless of how long the investigation takes.
We would like to thank the District Attorney Dan Jacobsma, District III District Attorney’s Office, Altus Police Department, United States Secret Service, Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
