Molly Miller and Colt Haynes

Who were Molly and Colt?

Molly Miller was born on April 30th, 1996 in Wilson, Oklahoma. Wilson is a small town in Carter County, a place where everyone knew each other, and many of the people were even related. Wilson is also in Chickasaw country, and Molly was part Chickasaw. She grew up living with her mother, Melissa, but often stayed with her grandparents too, who lived just a few blocks away. 

Molly was one of those athletes who was great at every sport that she tried. She particularly enjoyed softball and basketball. She had tons of softball trophies, and loved showing them off to anyone who would visit. Molly is described as someone who was a bit feisty, a girl who wanted to do things her own way. She spoke her mind, no matter what the consequence might have been. Molly went to a local vocational high school and planned on attending nursing school after graduation.

Friends said that Molly was bubbly and happy, and that she was the type of person that people just gravitated to. She had a big heart and cared deeply for her loved ones. Two of those people that held a very special place in Molly’s heart were her grandparents. When her grandmother passed away, Molly took it incredibly hard. Around this time is when people who knew Molly said that she began changing. She started hanging out with a different crowd of people, people who were heavy into drugs.

The rural area of Oklahoma that Molly and her family lived in had a known problem with drugs, in particular with methamphetamine. Some of the people that Molly began hanging out with were known to be involved in the manufacturing, selling, and use of methamphetamine. 

Unfortunately, Molly fell in deeper with this group of people and began to dabble in drug use. In the summer of 2013, just before her junior year of high school, Molly met 22-year-old Colt Haynes. There isn’t very much publicized about Colt’s personal life, but many people who knew him thought he was a genuinely nice guy. Colt, like many people his age in the area, struggled with drugs and had made some poor choices in his life. 

The Disappearance

On June 28th, 2013, Molly got into a big fight with her mother, Melissa, and left the home to stay at a friend’s house. Around this time is believed to be when Molly, who was just 17 years old, officially met Colt. For the next week or so, Molly spent the night at different friends’ houses, partying and reportedly using drugs. On July 7th, Molly was picked up by Colt and 22-year-old James Conn Nipp, who went by Conn, around 10:30PM.

Conn was well-known in the area for his constant run-ins with law enforcement. His uncle, Joe Russell, was actually Love County’s sheriff. One of Conn’s favorite past times was purposefully getting into trouble with police and letting his uncle get him out of it. Real cool guy.

On July 7th, after picking up Molly, Conn drove her and Colt to a nearby convenience store to grab beer. As they left the store,  Conn saw Wilson Police Officer Ryan Parsley parked in a lot across the street. Conn gunned his car out of the lot, flying down Main Street, going at least 80mph. The officer didn’t budge, possibly knowing that it was Conn, and not wanting to deal with him again. This happened at about 10:46PM.

Conn turned around and drove into the parking lot where the officer was parked and did a donut, spraying gravel all over the officer’s police cruiser. The officer turned on his lights and began pursuing Conn, who, of course, began leading the officer on a high speed chase. The 2012 black Honda Accord began speeding down Highway 76 towards Love County, reaching speeds of up to 120mph. 

The pursuing officer called in for backup and radio traffic explained that the officers believed it was Conn in the vehicle. The car began heading towards Long Hollow Road and Oswalt, going through Carter County and entering Love County. Other officers had begun heading towards the western side of the county to block the road when Sheriff Joe Russell (DON’T FORGET…THIS IS CONN’S UNCLE) came on the radio and instructed them to 10-22, which meant to cancel the pursuit. Reluctantly, the officers pulled back, while the Honda Accord continued towards the area of Long Hollow Road, which was a dead-end road. Officers said that at the time, they didn’t know that Molly and Colt were in the vehicle with Conn.

Conn continued driving through ravines and ditches, crashing through fences, totaling the car. Eventually, he got out and ran, leaving Molly and Colt alone. 

At 12:57AM, now July 8th, Molly’s phone called 911, but all that the dispatcher could hear were buttons being pressed. The call lasted just five seconds before disconnecting. The dispatcher tried to call Molly back, but nobody answered. Nobody was dispatched to the area.

Around 3AM, Colt called one of his friends and told them that he’d broken his leg and he was bleeding, but he didn’t know exactly where he was. Four friends, Benita, Devin, Colby, and Rob went out to look for Colt and Molly on 4 wheelers, searching around the area of Long Hollow Road, but they couldn’t find them. After searching for them for a while and still unable to see anything in the dark, the four friends decide to go home and wait for the sun to come up.

Several more phone calls were made from Molly and Colt’s phones to friends, asking for help and hoping they’d be able to find them out in the woods. 

Around 9AM, the four friends begin their search for Molly and Colt once again. They were able to get Colt on the phone, who told them to go to Conn Nipp’s house because he could tell them exactly where he’d left them. When the group arrived at the Nipp home, several family members met them outside, including Conn, and told them that they had no idea where Colt and Molly were, and that they needed to leave.

They handed their phone to Conn with Colt on the line. Friends could hear him screaming over the line at Conn, that he knew where they were and he better come get them. Conn continued to deny knowing where they were. His aunt told the group that they were trespassing and needed to leave their property. At 9:39AM, Molly’s phone went dead. Shortly after, at 9:56AM, Colt’s phone went dead. No further activity was ever detected on either cell phone and Colt and Molly haven’t been seen or heard from since.

The Investigation

Two weeks after Colt and Molly disappeared, Love County Sheriff Deputies locate the vehicle that Conn was driving on that night. It was about 1500 feet from the Nipp’s property line. No signs of blood or foul play were noted in the vehicle. 

The Honda was registered to Sabrina Graham, Conn’s girlfriend, who’d reported it stolen the night of the police chase. She said that Conn had the vehicle during the day (with her permission) and brought the car back to her about 30 minutes before the police chase began. When she woke up early the next morning, she said that she found her vehicle was gone and she reported it as stolen.

Sabrina was eventually arrested and charged with making. false insurance claim and filing a false police report about the “stolen” vehicle. She pleaded guilty and was given a three-year sentence.

A warrant was ultimately issued for Conn for eluding police and endangering others during the police chase he started on the night Molly and Colt disappeared. He said that he had absolutely no idea where they were, that maybe they’d run off to Wichita Falls.

There is conflicting information as to when there were official searches for Molly and Colt, however, as soon as Molly’s family realized she was missing, they immediately started looking. On July 8th, one of Molly’s cousins got a phone call from Melissa, Molly’s mother. She had seen on Facebook that people were looking for Molly, and that she seemed to be missing. Molly had told Melissa that she’d be at the lake for the weekend, however it seemed like that never happened, and now, nobody could find her or her new friend Colt.

Around 9AM on July 8th, while Molly and Colt were trying to get in touch with friends, and while their friends were out on 4 wheelers, trying to locate them, Melissa, Molly’s mother, went to the Wilson Police Department to file a runaway report on her daughter. She told them that Molly had run away before, but she’d always come back after a day or two. This time, it’d been more than a week since she’d seen Molly.

Later, the question would be raised, why didn’t Molly try to call her family to come find her? Her family believes that while Molly realized she was stuck in a bad situation, she didn’t necessarily think that she was in danger. She was probably more concerned about getting in trouble than anything else. 

Melissa also got in touch with the Love County Sheriff’s Department to report Molly missing. As the dispatcher was taking the report, she told Sheriff Joe Russell (REMEMBER, CONN’S UNCLE) that Molly’s mother was on the phone, trying to file a missing persons report on Molly. Russell said that he refused to take the report, that it wasn’t his problem.

Two weeks following the disappearance, Paula Fielder, Molly’s cousin, who has largely spearheaded the search and investigation into Molly and Colt’s disappearance, contacted Texas EquuSearch, a non-profit organization that helps with the search and recovery of missing persons. Using their resources, EquuSearch and Molly and Colt’s friends and families conducted a widespread search of the area where the two were last known to be, as well as the surrounding areas. They looked in ditches, wells, ravines, and under bridges, but found no signs of Molly or Colt.

In the years since Molly and Colt’s disappearance, their friends and family have done their best to figure out what happened in the days leading up to the police chase that night. In an interview with Partners in True Crime, a podcast that did an in-depth series on Molly and Colt, Paula explained what they’d discovered.

On the days leading up, Molly was staying at the house of a man named Josh Davis in Ardmore. On July 5th, two days before the chase, Molly, Colt, and at least two other guys were caught on surveillance video in the parking lot of the nearby Wilson Casino while a drug deal was taking place.

On July 6th, two of the friends who’d gone searching for Molly and Colt, picked the two of them up from Josh Davis’ house and they went to another friend’s house by the name of Rob (Rob was one of Conn’s cousins). One of the girls who reported this information was positive that it was July 6th because it was also her birthday. 

This is likely when Conn and Colt and Molly all crossed paths. Conn and Colt had a spotty history and were definitely not friends. Katie, who was the mother of Colt’s son, dated Conn before Colt and there was reportedly a history of abuse on Conn’s side. When Katie found out that Colt and Conn had hung out, she said that it was very strange, and that the only reason they would’ve been hanging out willingly with each other was because of drugs. 

Witnesses said that Colt and Josh were dealing and using drugs. Colt told Josh that Conn told him that if they took their drugs over to his people, they could double their money. At that time, Colt and Josh had at least $1,800 worth of drugs on them.

On the morning of July 7th, Conn picked Molly and Colt up and took them to Rob’s house. They left Molly there, which was confirmed by phone records of her calling both Colt and Conn to have them come pick her up. 

An unconfirmed tip reported that Rob’s wife woke up and found Molly and Rob doing drugs in the kitchen. His wife, who was trying to get sober, was upset and made Molly leave. Around this time is when Colt and Conn came back and picked Molly up. Sometime following this is when the infamous police chase occurred and Conn ditched Molly and Colt in the woods. Conn, who was apparently related to everyone in the freaking state, was also a distant cousin of Molly. Many people who knew him and Molly said that Conn actually liked Molly—they didn’t think he would hurt her.

A few days after the police chase, one of Molly’s cousins, Misty, got a call from Molly’s uncle. Someone had sent him a message saying that Molly was tied to a tree at the end of Long Hollow Road, and that she’d been sexually assaulted by multiple people. This tip also said that the people holding Molly were keeping her high on drugs and that they also had a shock collar on her that they’d use if she caused problems.

As soon as Molly’s uncle heard this, he immediately drove over to the area. He found the road to be blocked by law enforcement, who told him that everything was fine, that GOOD OL SHERIFF JOE RUSSELL WAS ON THE CASE and checking things out. Reportedly, nothing was found.

Theories

Some people speculate that after becoming lost in the woods, Colt and Molly died of exposure. July in Oklahoma would bring temperatures in the 90’s and 100’s, and without food and water, it would’ve become very dangerous. Colt told his friends that he’d broken his leg, and it’s very possible that he would’ve been unable to move around much. People who knew Molly said that she was very familiar with the area, and even though she likely wouldn’t have wanted to leave Colt, she could’ve made it to a nearby road.

This ties in to another theory, that Molly did go for help and was abducted and murdered by someone who gave her a ride. Colt, still injured and in the woods, could have died of exposure. Both of these theories present one problem though…where are their remains?

Like Conn told people after the chase, there remains the possibility that Colt and Molly left the area voluntarily and essentially ran away. Those who knew the two however, don’t believe this is likely. Colt, though he struggled with addiction and had his own problems, also had a 10 month old son. Though Molly had a history of running away and had been making poor decisions recently, no one believed that she would’ve left like this, never making contact with any of her friends or family again. It just didn’t make sense.

The most widely discussed and believed theory involves foul play. Many people say that there are several locals who know what happened and who was involved, but are too scared to say anything, especially considering that one of the people involved has significant pull with law enforcement. 

It’s possible that after Colt and Molly were left in the woods, Conn returned to his property. Once their friends confronted Conn at his home, he went out to where he’d left them and picked them up, possibly by himself or with others, and brought them back to his property. 

From this point on, the stories all vary slightly. Some say that Colt was immediately killed and possibly thrown in a well. Some believe that the information that Molly’s uncle received that night about her being tied to a tree and assaulted was actually true. This wouldn’t be the first time that something like this had happened in the area in the midst of the drug trade. 

Paula told Partners in True Crime podcast, “I have spoken to other girls who have been in this world with these same players, with these same people. It’s like a joke to tie these girls to a tree and drug them and have sex with them while they’re tied to a tree…”

Paula, and most others close to the investigation, are confident that there are people out there who know exactly what happened that night. She even told the Oklahoman newspaper that she was sure that this case could be easily solved if someone came forward.

“There are several people who know exactly what happened to Molly and Colt, and I plead with you to help us. Let us have peace. You know, we didn’t start this, but we will finish it. We’re not going to let go until Molly and Colt are home.”

Tips have continued to flood in about Molly and Colt, particularly once the Partners in True Crime Podcast began bringing even more light to the case. There were several people whose names were often brought up in these tips. One name in particular was a young man named Jason. Because he hasn’t been officially named as a person of interest and much of the information about him is alleged, we’ll just use his first name, but you can easily google and find his full name.

In January of 2013, about six or so months before he disappeared, Colt was arrested, along with Jason and Jason’s girlfriend on charges involving methamphetamine. Jason ultimately didn’t get officially charged and Colt’s charges were surprisingly dismissed, even though it was his second arrest for the same charge. 

Paula spoke with someone who was close with Colt and Jason during this time, who said that Jason believed that Colt was given a deal by the police if he would give them information on Jason, who apparently had a meth lab in his house. Paranoid, Jason got rid of the lab in his house, which was raided shortly after by police. Was this a possible motive for targeting Colt?

While many people assume that Colt and Molly were romantically involved, they weren’t. Actually, Colt had been dating a young woman named Stormie McPeak at the time of his disappearance. She has not spoken much about Colt or Molly publicly, but eventually gave an interview to the Partners in True Crime Podcast.

Stormie knew everyone involved in Colt’s life, as the two had been dating for 4-5 months. Stormie, like Colt, struggled with addiction, and while the party lifestyle was what brought them together, the two had a really good relationship. Stormie said that Colt was loving and supportive, and he’d do anything for anyone. She couldn’t imagine why anyone would want to hurt him.

Stormie knew both Conn and Jason well, and that, allegedly, Jason had a significant history of violence against women. She told Partners in True Crime that she’d seen Jason beat his girlfriend, and that he even essentially kidnapped her once, and she eventually escaped and ran away. Stormie reported this to police, but to her knowledge, nothing came of it.

During the time leading up to Colt and Molly’s disappearance, Stormie said that Jason had been threatening her, both to her face, to Colt, and through others. Colt was so concerned about Stormie’s safety, and obviously believed that Jason was capable of following through on his threats, told Stormie to get out of town, and that he was going to take care of things. Colt reportedly told Stormie this just a few days before he disappeared.

Around that same time is when Stormie said that she saw Colt for the very last time. She dropped him off near the Wilson Casino, where he got in a white pickup truck that was driven by a male, with Molly sitting in the middle. Stormie didn’t recognize the driver. 

Stormie said that she has been told multiple times by many different people that Conn intended to pick up HER and Colt that night, that Molly was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Paula also said that she’d heard rumors that Jason had instructed Conn to pick up Colt and Stormie that night. Was Molly’s being in that car that night a horrible coincidence?

Fucking Joe Russell

In January of 2014, Conn was in yet another police chase, this time with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (and we all know that highway patrol and state troopers do NOT fuck around). He caused an officer to go airborne in his vehicle and hit a tree. Conn was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, eluding the police, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and released in 2018 after serving just four years of his sentence.

Eight months after Molly and Colt’s disappearances, a 911 call was made accidentally by Conn’s uncle, Colby Barrick. Payne Lindsey, host of “Up and Vanished”, said of the recording, “from the sounds of it, he was describing how Molly and Colt were allegedly murdered”.

“You know, you’re fucking mad, you know, you’re fucking tired…fucking Moxley Lake. A buck knife…Molly Miller. they shot him in the mouth…right there, I can put my finger all the way through it…” 

The 911 dispatcher then heard what sounded like water splashing and two gunshots. The phone that the call came from pinged near Moxley Lake, just north of Long Hollow Road. Officers were dispatched to the area, including Sheriff Joe Russell. Three men were found on the property, all felons, and all with firearms. They said that they were just fishing. All three were ticketed for trespassing and let go. Moxley Lake was eventually searched unofficially by Paula, along with several others, under the supervision of a retired FBI agent. Nothing was found.

In 2018, Barrick, the cousin who was believed to be the one who made the accidental 911 call, was arrested on unrelated firearm charges and sentenced to 46 months in prison. Reportedly, he also told law enforcement while in custody, that Molly and Colt’s bodies were in the pond.

In July of 2016, Love County Sheriff Joe Russell (CONN’S FUCKING UNCLE) was arrested and charged with corruption and willful neglect of duty. While serving as the Sheriff, Russell had allowed several people, including his son, to essentially manufacture and sell methamphetamine out of his home. He also allowed his son’s girlfriend, who had four warrants out for her arrest, to stay at his home without informing law enforcement. 

Russell accepted a plea deal for a misdemeanor, pleading no contest to willful omission to perform a duty. The former sheriff was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation and to pay $300 in court costs.

In the 2015 grand jury testimonies that were considering corruption and drug charges, a witness testified that Molly was taken to a property on Long Hollow Road, that they had a big party there and that multiple people sexually assaulted Molly. The witness said that he was told this information by Conn Nipp, who claimed to have been there.

Paula told Partners in True Crime that she often goes back to Labor Day week in 2013, just a few months after Molly and Colt disappeared. She, Molly’s mother, and another one of Molly’s cousins went to Conn’s house to beg him for answers. Paula pleaded with him to just tell them where she was. She said that Conn had tears in his eyes, as he told her that he didn’t want to go to jail. Before he could say anything else, his aunt Jennifer stepped in, making it clear that Conn was done talking. Paula strongly believes that if Jennifer hadn’t been there that day, Conn would have told them what he knew about Molly and Colt. Though a LOT of people believe that Conn knows what happened to Molly and Colt, many of those same people don’t think that he necessarily was behind their deaths.

On January 13th, 2021, Molly’s family officially declared her deceased. Paula explained that this was necessary to move the investigation and, hopefully, prosecution, forward in the future. In 2022, the Bureau of Indian Affairs took over the investigation because Molly was part of the Chickasaw Nation. If you have any information regarding the disappearances of Molly Miller or Colt Haynes, please contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 1-833-560-2065. If you want to hear more in-depth interviews and details about the case, check out Partners in True Crime Podcast.