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Wife of slain Nichols Hills fire chief pleads not guilty in his death

Tiffany Gibson
by Tiffany Gibson
Published: Wed, May 23, 2012 12:00 AM

EL RENO — A Mustang woman accused of fatally shooting her husband Sept. 20 pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge Tuesday.

Rebecca Bryan, 53, appeared in court alongside her attorney, Gary James, on Tuesday and entered a not guilty plea in the shooting death of her husband, Nichols Hills Fire Chief Keith Bryan.

Canadian County District Judge Gary E. Miller set a motion hearing for June 26. A tentative trial docket date also was scheduled for Sept. 10.

James said Bryan is staying strong.

“She prays a lot,” he said of his client.

Bryan is accused of shooting Keith Bryan inside their Mustang home at 1320 W Rose Hill Drive.

Keith Bryan suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was taken to a hospital, where he died the next morning.

In a 911 call, Rebecca Bryan said an intruder came into their home and shot her husband. She was arrested on a murder complaint after investigators found a handgun, gloves and ammunition in the laundry room.

A friend testified at a preliminary hearing in March that Rebecca Bryan told her she felt guilty about the shooting because she had sex with another man earlier that day.

A former lover testified that Bryan called him before the shooting and said she “was going to be inheriting a significant amount of money.”

Related Photos
Becky Bryan and her attorney, Gary James, appeared Tuesday before District Judge Gary E. Miller at the Canadian County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge. Photo by Jim Beckel, THE OKLAHOMAN

Becky Bryan and her attorney, Gary James, appeared Tuesday before District Judge Gary E. Miller at the Canadian County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge. Photo by Jim Beckel, THE OKLAHOMAN

Rebecca Bryan turns to look at friends and family members attending her preliminary hearing at the Canadian County Courthouse in El Reno Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman
Becky Bryan and her attorney Gary James appeared before District Judge Gary Miller in a courtroom at the Canadian County Courthouse Tuesday, May 22, 2012, for a preliminary hearing on a first degree murder charge in the shooting death of her husband, a former chief of the Nichols Hills Fire Department. James entered a not guilty plea for Bryan. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman
<figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-09f0529155fb02b54726d6ed51e33169.jpg" alt="Photo - Becky Bryan and her attorney, Gary James, appeared Tuesday before District Judge Gary E. Miller at the Canadian County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge. Photo by Jim Beckel, THE OKLAHOMAN" title="Becky Bryan and her attorney, Gary James, appeared Tuesday before District Judge Gary E. Miller at the Canadian County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge. Photo by Jim Beckel, THE OKLAHOMAN"><figcaption>Becky Bryan and her attorney, Gary James, appeared Tuesday before District Judge Gary E. Miller at the Canadian County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge. Photo by Jim Beckel, THE OKLAHOMAN</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-40b9eca7149bea3249f0e5535587741c.jpg" alt="Photo - Rebecca Bryan turns to look at friends and family members attending her preliminary hearing at the Canadian County Courthouse in El Reno Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman" title="Rebecca Bryan turns to look at friends and family members attending her preliminary hearing at the Canadian County Courthouse in El Reno Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Rebecca Bryan turns to look at friends and family members attending her preliminary hearing at the Canadian County Courthouse in El Reno Wednesday, March 14, 2012. Photo by Paul B. Southerland, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="//cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-a56d44d853fa58fdb6d68630d1c867fc.jpg" alt="Photo - Becky Bryan and her attorney Gary James appeared before District Judge Gary Miller in a courtroom at the Canadian County Courthouse Tuesday, May 22, 2012, for a preliminary hearing on a first degree murder charge in the shooting death of her husband, a former chief of the Nichols Hills Fire Department. James entered a not guilty plea for Bryan. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman" title="Becky Bryan and her attorney Gary James appeared before District Judge Gary Miller in a courtroom at the Canadian County Courthouse Tuesday, May 22, 2012, for a preliminary hearing on a first degree murder charge in the shooting death of her husband, a former chief of the Nichols Hills Fire Department. James entered a not guilty plea for Bryan. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman"><figcaption>Becky Bryan and her attorney Gary James appeared before District Judge Gary Miller in a courtroom at the Canadian County Courthouse Tuesday, May 22, 2012, for a preliminary hearing on a first degree murder charge in the shooting death of her husband, a former chief of the Nichols Hills Fire Department. James entered a not guilty plea for Bryan. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman</figcaption></figure>
Tiffany Gibson

Tiffany Gibson has worked for The Oklahoman since August 2011 and is a member of the enterprise team and digital desk. In addition to writing and web editing, she creates interactive features for NewsOK.com and assists with data visualization and... Read more ›

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