Claremore Daily Progress

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March 19, 2010

Man accused in 2003 murder waives prelim hearing

Krystal J. Carman Staff Writer

CLAREMORE — A Claremore man accused of murdering a 17-year-old six years ago has waived his preliminary hearing and will be arraigned in Rogers County District Court.

Eric Brouse, 26, is charged with first degree murder in connection with the disappearance of Robert Sims. Sims was reported missing March 2, 2004. What is believed to be his remains were found in December 2008 in 20-feet of water in an abandoned coal pit at the entrance of Winganon Park near the intersection of 4180 and 330 roads.

Also charged with first degree murder in the case is 25-year-old Charles Kirk. Kirk’s preliminary hearing was held in November and he was subsequently bound over for trial. A jury trial has been set for May 10 in Kirk’s case.

During Kirk’s preliminary hearing, the Rogers County District Attorney’s office stated a letter from the state medical examiner’s office indicated the bones could be Sims, but that no testing had been conducted.

When Sims’ mother reported him missing in 2004, she stated she had not heard from him in more than a week.

Acting on a tip, Rogers County authorities along with the assistance of the Tulsa Police and Tulsa County dive teams found human bones and a cinder block in the abandoned coal pit.

Shortly after the discovery, deputies and investigators served a search warrant in rural northern Rogers County where they believe they found the possible weapon used to kill Sims.

That search led to a residence in Claremore where deputies arrested Eric Brouse. According to officials, while interviewing Brouse, he made a full confession. Brouse is being held in the Rogers County Jail booked on a charge of first-degree murder.

Since Sims was reported missing, Investigator Chris Bohl and Jeremiah Daniels have followed many leads, all of which led to dead ends until the tip received that led to the remains.

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