A 37-year-old Carter man is being held without bond in the Beckham County Detention Center after being charged with first-degree manslaughter in the Beckham County District Court on January 18.
In last week’s edition of the Beckham County Record, we covered the arrest of Clayton Samson Hays following the death of 42-yearold Colter Jake Vaught.
At that time, the probable cause affidavit was not available.
The affidavit was released on Thursday, January 18.
According to the affidavit, the Beckham County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 transfer call from the Elk City Police Department at approximately 8:17 am.
The transferred call reportedly advised that a male subject had been shot by the 911 caller at Patterson Oil Tools on the 900 block of South Merritt Road.
During the call, the caller, who reportedly identified himself as Hays, allegedly advised that a man was trying to get into his semi-truck and that “he did not know who the subject was.”
However, after Hays had been placed under arrest, read his Miranda Warning, and transferred to jail, he reportedly admitted that he and the victim, Colter Vaughter, had, in fact, known each other for years. Hays also allegedly admitted that he knew that Vaught worked at Patterson but reportedly claimed that he did not know what Vaught drove.
“While at the Beckham County Sheriff’s Offi ce, a visual inspection of Clayton’s person did not show any injuries on his person consistent with a physical altercation,” the BCSO investigator wrote in the affidavit.
The victim also reportedly did not have any weapons on his person during or after the incident.
The BCSO investigator noted a “long history” between the suspect and the victim.
In the affidavit, the investigator noted that the Beckham County Sheriff’s Office was called in December to the home of Vaught’s dying father after receiving a call about Hays arriving.
Hays was officially arraigned in the Beckham County District Court at 8:30 am on January 18.
Family and supporters of Vaught, a Sayre resident and Carter native, left the courtroom with no empty seat.
Hays appeared via video from the Beckham County Detention Center.
Assistant District Attorney Gina Webb asked for no bond and said a continued investigation is ongoing with the potential for upgraded charges.
Beckham County District Judge Michelle Kirby Roper agreed and denied bond until the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Report is available.
Hays is due back in court on April 15.
