06/09/2026
BIXBY DAD ELLIOTT BINNEY SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CRASH THAT KILLED 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER:
A Tulsa judge has sentenced Elliott Binney to 5 years in prison for causing the crash that killed his daughter in 2024. The judge rejected Binney’s 2 year judicial review, saying she doesn’t think it’s warranted.
Binney pled guilty in April to manslaughter, leaving the scene of a fatality collision and child neglect, as part of plea agreement with prosecutors. Prosecutors recommended Binney serve five years in prison followed by 5 years probation.
Investigators say Binney was driving recklessly in bad weather in 2024 when he crashed and rolled their car. Binney’s daughter, Shelby, was ejected from the car and died. His other two kids and wife were still in the car and suffered injuries.
Investigators say Binney left the scene and was later arrested 45 miles away in Checotah.
DA Steve Kunzweiler says this case was difficult because Binney’s wife and other two kids, who were victims in the crash did not want Binney to go to prison. Kunzweiler said Binney deserved to go to prison for his actions.
Binney will have to serve 85% before he’s eligible for parole.
FULL STATEMENT FROM DA KUNZWEILER:
“The death of 16-year-old Shelby Binney is no doubt a tragedy. Her family was deprived of her smile, her youthful enthusiasm, and her companionship. Her father, Elliot Binney is responsible for her death and he is going to prison for her death.
While some may think that criminal prosecution is like a Hollywood produced TV crime drama like Law and Order, the actual job of criminal investigations, and presenting proof in a courtroom, is not for entertainment.
It is not for political gamesmanship or for the exploitation of victims. Local law enforcement does the best job it can in gathering evidence of the crimes which can be proven in a courtroom. It is a difficult job, and it takes experience to make sure that the evidence introduced in a courtroom is admissible and reliable.
In Mr. Binney’s case the provable facts were that he was driving recklessly in raining conditions at a high rate of speed. He lost control of the vehicle and it rolled several times resulting in the ejection of Shelby and injuries to his wife and two other children in the car. Mr. Binney fled the scene – leaving his wife and children behind. He was eventually apprehended in Checotah, Oklahoma. Only Mr. Binney knows why he left. It was those behaviors which resulted in his conviction for the crimes of First-Degree Manslaughter, Leaving the Scene of a Fatality Collision, and Child Neglect.
While there was evidence of alcohol in the car and consumption of some of that alcohol by Mr. Binney, there was no provable evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that he was driving his family while he was impaired. If that evidence existed, the Bixby Police Department would have arrested him for that offense and my office would have prosecuted him for that offense. What was provable was his reckless driving, the death of his daughter, the injuries to his wife and children, and his leaving the scene.
It is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback – to speculate on what the evidence might have been. However, the law is clear – we should only prosecute those crimes for which we have admissible evidence which will convict a person charged with a crime.
Occasionally, other factors also affect the ability to prosecute a case – to include the cooperation of key witnesses. This case was no different. Mrs. Binney was put in the very difficult position of losing her daughter while also knowing her husband was responsible for Shelby’s death based upon his reckless driving. She opposed my position that her husband needed to go to prison. Sometimes criminal cases are like that – where a victim may prefer on outcome, and I have to take a position inconsistent with the victim’s desires. That is what makes this job tough, but it is a job I have been doing for over 36 years.
The Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office places its focus on every case to find truth and seek justice. Each case has its own unique facts and circumstances, and this case was no different.
Despite the pleas of Mrs. Binney and her children. Despite the pleas of Mr. Binney. Despite the pleas of Mr. Binney’s extended family members – despite all of that, Judge Holmes sentenced him to prison based upon my recommendation. What Mr. Binney did after the rollover crash is what got him a prison sentence.
