Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Brutal Murder of an Elderly Woman

03 Feb Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Brutal Murder of an Elderly Woman

In the News

FOX23               KTUL            Tulsa World            KJRH              KOKI             KOTV         NewsOK                KFOR

CF-2015-200

Chelsea M Raulston

Chelsea Raulston (DOB 6/28/95)

21-year-old Chelsea M. Raulston is sentenced to life in prison for murder in the first, plus 30 years for robbery in the first plus a previous five year sentence for unauthorized use of a vehicle.  The Judge making all sentences run consecutively; meaning Raulston won’t be eligible for parole until she is at least in her late 80’s.  The age her victim Velma Bennett would be now.

Velma Bennett

Bennett was 83 years old when Raulston beat her to death with a pipe and stole some of her belongings.

In the court-ordered pre-sentence investigation (PSI) Raulston told the investigator she and her co-defendant, Charlee Adams (CF-2015-201), plotted to murder Velma and take her money.  She stated the first plan was to drown the elderly woman but the plan changed and the decision was made to use a metal pipe that Raulston “was able to swing”.  The investigation also reports Raulston stated she enjoys bullying people and she continues this behavior.  The investigation concludes with the recommendation Raulston receive the maximum sentence.

Craig County Assistant District Attorney Tony Evans says in 12 years as a prosecutor he has never seen a PSI investigator recommend the maximum sentence.

In arguing for life without possibility of parole plus life sentences, to run consecutively, Evans said in court  ”Raulston showed no mercy that night she deserves no mercy today.”

Raulston entered a blind plea of guilty in December 2016.

About a dozen of Velma’s friends and family members were in the courtroom for the sentencing.  Her daughters say they want people to remember their mom as a kind-hearted, energetic woman who loved animals and tried to help everyone around her.  She is deeply missed.

Velma gave Raulston and Adams a place to stay and fed them for more than two weeks.  She was trying to find a new place for them to stay the night she was murdered.