Vian Men Bound over for Trial

Two Vian men, both charged with second-degree murder, were bound over for trial on the charges Friday in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw

According to court records, Michael Dean Buster II, 23, will be formally arraigned on the second-degree murder charge on June 6 in district court.

Kyle Reece Major, 32, will be formally arraigned on June 27. District Judge Jeff Payton is scheduled to do the arraignments and set trial dates.

The two men are charged with the death of Pliney Dane Crum, 31. Crum was found unconscious at his home north of Vian on Sept. 29 and died on Sept. 30 at a Tulsa hospital.

Buster and Major both entered not guilty pleas to the charge.

According to the investigators’ reports filed with the charges, Buster was found at the scene, at Crum’s home north of Vian, and admitted to killing Crum in a fist fight. He said the two had been drinking and Crum was calling him a name. Buster told investigators he blacked out and when he came to he was sitting on top of Crum hitting him in the head. He said he then went across the road to McQuick’s convenience store and asked that 911 be called because “he just killed someone.” That statement led witnesses to the unconscious Crum and the call for help and law enforcement. Buster was arrested at the scene.

Major was arrested Oct. 1. According to the investigators’ reports, Major at first denied being at the scene, although he did admit he took Buster to Crum’s home, but said he left before the fight. But surveillance tape from McQuick’s store, obtained by the investigators, shows Major leaving Crum’s home just 10 minutes before Buster runs across the street to ask for help. Major eventually told investigators he was at the residence during the fight and related how the fight occurred. He said he told Buster to run for help and that he tried to revive Crum. According to the report, Major said Buster was “freaking out,” and he was afraid Buster would attack him, so he left.

The murder in the second degree charges allege the suspects did cause the death of the victim but that “. . .this conduct was not done with the intention of taking the life of Dane Crum.” It is also noted the crime is punishable by imprisonment for 10 years to life.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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