In this episode of Murder, Mystery & Makeup, the Harubi family of Oklahoma is explored — a seemingly affluent and respected clan until their teenage son Allen commits the unthinkable, gunning down his entire family. The hosts detail the paradox of Allen's privileged upbringing versus his long history of criminal tendencies unchecked by his parents.
The grisly events of the murders are recounted, including Allen's chilling rationale of wanting to inherit the family estate to pay off debts and fund his lavish lifestyle. Investigating officers reveal key evidence leading to Allen's confession and eventual sentencing to multiple life terms. This compelling case sheds light on the darker side of privilege and the tragic consequences of unchecked greed.
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The Harubi family of Duncan, Oklahoma were affluent, with John Harubi as a respected local newspaper publisher known for community service. His wife Joy, affectionately called "Tinker," worked as a private investigator devoted to good causes. Their daughter Catherine, 17, was admired as a smart, likable high school student and athlete.
Their son Allen, 18 or 19, had a strained relationship with Catherine due to his problematic behavior from a young age: lying, stealing, violence against his mother, credit card fraud, and flaunting a lavish lifestyle on social media. Despite his crimes, his parents shielded Allen from consequences.
One day, Allen shot and killed his mother and sister at home. Upon his father John's return, Allen shot and killed him too, staging the scene to appear as a robbery gone wrong. The bodies went undiscovered for nearly four days.
According to Detective John Byers, Allen confessed he killed his family to inherit their estate and pay off a $3,000 debt to a loan shark after his parents cut him off financially. The district attorney believed greed motivated Allen's desire to become the sole heir.
A housekeeper found the bodies and police linked Allen to the murders based on toll records, stolen checks in his dorm, and a notebook with forged signatures.
Though Allen expressed little remorse, after prosecutors dropped the death penalty request at the family's wishes, he pled guilty to avoid trial. In 2016, Allen received three consecutive life sentences, condemned by his grandfather as inherently evil.
1-Page Summary
The Harubi family, based in Duncan, Oklahoma, was known for their affluence, community involvement, and dynamic family roles, ranging from local business endeavors to individual contributions to the community.
John Harubi, at age 50 during the story, continued the family tradition as a publisher of local weekly newspapers. After selling the Duncan Banner, a paper owned by his family for three generations, in 1997, the Harubi family led a comfortable life. In 2007, John kept the family's newspaper legacy alive by purchasing two other local papers, the Marlowe Review and the Comanche County Chronicle. His contributions extended beyond his professional life, as he served as the vice president of the Oklahoma Press Association and actively participated in the Boy Scouts and charity work. John's persona in the community was of a man who was trustworthy, loyal, friendly, cheerful, and widely regarded as a good guy.
Joy Harubi, at 48 years old, was more than a former school teacher and a writer for the local paper. Also known affectionally as Tinker, she was a licensed private investigator who was deeply devoted to her friends and committed to good causes in the society. The community regarded her as a dedicated individual intent on serving both her family and her neighbors.
Catherine, the 17-year-old younger daughter of the Harubi family, was a junior at Duncan High School. Described as smart, loyal, funny, and invariably smiling, she was actively involved in the school's volleyball team. Her positive reputation led her family to have high aspirations for her future, including the hope that she would attend college and pursue a successful career.
Allen ...
The Harubi family background and dynamics
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Allen Harubi’s troubling past and criminal activities are brought to the forefront as various instances of deceit, violence, and materialistic obsession unfold throughout his life.
From a young age, Allen showed signs of law-breaking and deception.
At age 13, Allen stole his grandmother's car, leading to an encounter with law enforcement. Later, at 15, he got stopped for speeding and provided the police with a false name and birthday. He also faced charges for obstructing an officer because he didn't have his wallet, which translated into charges for speeding, having no license, and lacking insurance.
Allen was also untruthful about his personal achievements. He claimed he was the fifth-ranked high school tennis player in his state, which his coach refuted by explaining Allen wasn't that skilled. Moreover, Allen boasted about becoming a male model and being featured in W Magazine, which was, in fact, a fabrication.
A violent incident occurred where Allen attacked and choked his mother, Joy, during a dispute, reportedly over money. Although police were involved, no charges were forwarded due to the family's influence in local media.
Allen's fixation with spending and flaunting his possessions was evident through his fraudulent actions and social media presence.
In 2013, Allen exploited his grandmother's personal information to obtain an American Express credit card, which he used for various unapproved purchases, including a lavish six-week European trip to Rome, Naples, and Paris. Despite being convicted for $5,000 in fraudulent transactions on his grandmother’s card, the reality pointed to a staggering $80,000. Allen was mandated to pay restitution after pleading guilty to credit card theft.
On social media, Allen often bragged about his luxury lifestyle, indicated by his lavish expenditures. He stayed at a distinguished hotel in Paris, posted a picture of a $4,000 watch near the Eiffel Tower, and referenced "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" while socializing there.
His social media accounts were a testament to his spending habits, where he frequently boasted about his apparently boundless wealth. This was supported by his instruments of luxury, such as owning a Rolex watch, donning Louis Vuitton shoes, and flaunting expensive wallets with monogrammed initials. His associations with excessive luxury were highlighted with the hashtag #expensive, and he described himself as a shopaholic, conveying the ...
Allen Harubi's problematic behavior and criminal activities
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The brutal murder of the Harubi family gripped the community as details surfaced about the events and the chilling motives behind the crime.
On a day that turned tragic, Allen Harubi committed an unthinkable act that cost the lives of his own family members.
Catherine was outside washing her car when she heard a noise and entered the house, only to be met by her brother Allen who shot her in the head, killing her instantly. Allen's mother lay dead nearby. Allen spent the next hour in the house with the bodies of his mother and sister until his father, John, returned home. When John walked into the deadly scene, Allen shot him once, watched him fall, and then shot him a second time.
Subsequently, Allen staged the house to give the impression that a robbery had taken place. He left with the murder weapon and the home surveillance equipment, which he disposed of in a lake or in the family's storage unit. The bodies remained undiscovered for nearly four days, during which time five spent nine-millimeter shell casings were left at the scene, an indictment of the violence that had occurred.
A dark narrative emerged from the investigation, revealing Allen's motives rooted in desperation and greed.
Allen, who was under suspicion for a pending stolen check complaint, conf ...
The murder of the Harubi family and Allen's motives
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Allen Harubi's case unfolds as a housekeeper's grim discovery led to Harubi's confession, arrest, and eventual sentencing for the murder of his family members.
The tragedy came to light when the family housekeeper stumbled upon the bodies and immediately alerted the authorities by calling 911. Upon being informed of his family's murders, Allen exhibited signs of distress. He was observed crying and appeared upset as he cooperated with the police, spending time with a chaplain confessing his sins. However, his cooperation took a turn as his actions began to arouse suspicion.
Allen’s behavior landed him in custody overnight due to a complaint about a suspected stolen check and a breach of his probation terms for credit card fraud. Investigators, pursuing a hunch, procured Allen’s toll records which revealed his travel from college to his hometown of Duncan, twice on the day of the murders. Further, a search of Allen's dorm room unveiled a stash of four stolen checks hidden under his bed, and a notebook filled with practice signatures.
Amid mounting police pressure, Allen waived his façade, confessing to the gruesome murders, although he expressed little remorse for the horrific act.
As the legal procedures unfolded, Allen was charged not only with concealing stolen property but also announced as the sole suspect behind his family’s murders. The district attorney noted an absence of genuine remorse from Allen, citing his regret was merely about the consequences he faced rather than the atrocious crime itself, a sentiment underscored by recalling an earlier assault Allen committed against his mo ...
The investigation, arrest, and sentencing of Allen Harubi
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