06/11/2026
John Hruby of Duncan, Oklahoma, worked as a publisher for the Marlow Review alongside his wife, Katherine. Before joining the Marlow Review, he had served as publisher of The Duncan Banner, a role previously held by his father, Al Hruby, before John took over leadership of the newspaper.
After the Hruby family sold The Duncan Banner in 1997, John transitioned to the Marlow Review. He and Katherine had two children: a 17-year-old daughter named Katherine and a 19-year-old son, Alan. Katherine attended Duncan High School as a junior, while Alan was enrolled at the University of Oklahoma.
At approximately 9 a.m. on October 13, 2014, Duncan police received a frantic call from the family's housekeeper. She reported that upon arriving for work, she discovered the bodies of John, Katherine Sr., and Katherine Jr. inside the home. All three had been fatally shot.
Officers quickly responded to the residence on Bent Tree Drive and secured the area while shocked neighbors gathered nearby. One resident described the tragedy as heartbreaking and unbelievable. They recalled the Hrubys as kind and helpful people who were always willing to lend a hand, whether it was helping start a stalled vehicle or assisting in finding a lost pet. According to neighbors, they were the type of family everyone appreciated having around.
The shocking killings sent fear throughout the community, with many initially suspecting that a robbery had turned deadly. As investigators dug deeper, however, it became clear that thea case was not a random act of violence. The truth would prove far more complicated than anyone first imagined.
Only hours after the bodies were discovered, Alan was taken into custody on a separate matter. Earlier that year, in January, he had pleaded guilty to credit card theft after taking and using his grandmother's credit card...