An Ardmore man who told authorities last week he was the victim of an attempted lynching near Milo, has admitted the story was a hoax.
Sheriff Ken Grace said Glynis Davis made the admissions Monday in a formal statement that the lynching incident he had described was untrue.
“His wife was with him when he made the statement and corroborated the statement,” Grace said.
Davis’ admissions came when the Carter County Sheriff’s Department and FBI investigation into his May 28 report that four white men tried to lynch him indicated the story was not factual.
“The injuries to his neck, which he had originally said were the result of the attempted lynching, actually occurred earlier and were the result of an accident,” Grace said.
Davis had told investigators May 28 he was driving near Milo on May 25 when he saw cows in the road and stopped to help the owner of the animals return them to a pasture. He said suddenly four white men appeared, accusing him of trying to steal the cows,
and subsequently attempted to lynch him. Davis said an unknown man, driving a black dually pickup, happened on the scene. The pickup driver stopped and fired shots in the air. He said the four assailants fled. The driver of the pickup left, as did the owner of the cows.
Davis didn’t report the incident for three days. He said he only came forward after seeing one of the men who tried to lynch him in a local store May 28.
“We are taking these allegations very, very seriously,” Grace told The Daily Ardmoreite Saturday. “Three deputies have been assigned to this case 24-7 since this was reported and due to the hate crime implications we asked for the assistance of the FBI and they have joined the investigation.”
On Monday the FBI pulled out of the case.
“A review of the allegations indicates no evidence of a violation of a federal crime,” Gary Johnson, FBI Media Relations, said.
Grace called the hoax unfortunate.
“These kinds of allegations are always disturbing and concerning, not only for law enforcement but for all of the citizens of the county. It’s a serious, serious issue and it’s unfortunate when these kinds of false allegations surface. It takes up a great deal of investigative time and effort, because we want to be sure the citizens — all the citizens, of Carter County are protected,” he said.
But while Davis’ lynching story was false, Grace said the Ardmore man still maintains he was involved in an altercation near Milo May 25 and the investigation is continuing.
According to the sheriff, Davis continues to say he was driving in the area and discovered cows on the road.
He said he stopped to help round them up and four men did involve him in what now appears to have been a verbal altercation. A man, driving a black dually pickup, happened on the scene and his arrival caused the four suspects to flee.
“At this point we are continuing to investigate the matter. When we have finished, we will present all of our reports to the district attorney’s office,” Grace said.
Those with information concerning the incident or the identity of the four suspects or the driver of the black pickup are urged to contact the sheriff’s department at (580) 223-6014.
Marsha Miller 221-6529
marsha.miller@ardmoreite.com
