Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

SEQUOYAH COUNTY - Cherokee Nation Marshals arrested Jeffrey Wayne Leaf at noon Saturday, October 28, 2000 in connection with the murder of Olen Lee Kennedy in Sequoyah County. Leaf allegedly shot Kennedy after the two engaged in an altercation. Sequoyah County officers called Cherokee Nation marshals to the scene between 2 and 3 a.m. on Friday, October 27. By 5 a.m., marshals had identified Leaf as the suspected and were conducting a search.

Leaf surrendered after his friends found Cherokee Nation Marshals searching for him.

"They found us, we didn’t find them," said David Roberts, director of the Cherokee Nation marshal service. "They said, 'We've been looking for you.' Leaf said he would only surrender to Cherokee Nation Marshals."

"There was a peaceful surrender to the ultimate violent situation, solely because the Cherokee Nation was the authority on the scene," Roberts said.

FBI officers were present when the arrest took place, and Leaf is currently in federal custody. Acting on information from the Cherokee Nation marshals, the FBI discovered a methamphetamine lab on the property where Leaf allegedly shot Kennedy. The Cherokee Nation Marshals have seized three meth labs in the last three weeks.