The Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office has announced a successful conclusion to a 12-year investigation into the disappearance and death of Barbara Ann Durant, resulting in the conviction of two individuals responsible for her murder.
In July 2012, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office filed a missing person report for Durant, age 54, after friends and neighbors reported they had been unable to contact her. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) was contacted at that time to assist in the search and investigation. Despite extensive efforts, Durant was not located, and the case eventually went cold.
On February 1, 2020, a tarp containing possible human remains was discovered in a creek bed near the Latimer–Pittsburg County line. The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed the remains to be those of Barbara Ann Durant.
Following this discovery, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and OSBI reopened the investigation and conducted numerous additional interviews. Over the following months, agents and deputies spent countless hours gathering new evidence and revisiting earlier leads. The case was ultimately presented to District Attorney Chuck Sullivan, who authorized the filing of charges.
On October 24, 2024, arrest warrants were issued for Mary Brochu (also known as Mary Ballard) and Billy Jack Thomason, both charged with First Degree Murder in Durant’s death. Brochu, age 78, was arrested in Louisiana and extradited to Oklahoma, where she was booked into the Pittsburg County Detention Center on October 30, 2024. Thomason, age 49, was already in custody with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections on unrelated charges and was transferred to Pittsburg County to face the murder charge.
On April 12, 2025, Brochu entered a no contest plea and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Thomason later entered a plea agreement and received a 25-year sentence in connection with the case.
This case’s resolution would not have been possible without the dedication and persistence of the investigators who refused to let it go cold. The Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest appreciation to Cold Case Investigator George Scott, Deputy Tommy Lyons, Deputy Randy Hass, OSBI Agent Jenny Virden, OSBI Agent Christian Goode, and the many others who contributed their time and expertise.
Their tireless efforts ensured that justice was finally served for Barbara Ann Durant and her loved ones. The Sheriff’s Office hopes this brings a measure of peace and closure to her family and friends.
-Sheriff Frankie McClendon
