Social media influencer Sara Gilson was shot and killed in Owasso, Oklahoma, on Thursday, July 23, by her estranged husband, Jeremiah Duffey, in an apparent murder-suicide. The killing occurred less than two weeks after Gilson posted a TikTok video accusing Duffey of pedophilia following an emergency protective order.
Sara Gilson, a 43-year-old hairstylist and social media influencer with more than 30,000 followers on TikTok, was found dead alongside her estranged husband, Jeremiah Duffey—who went by Shawn Duffey online—according to the Owasso Police Department. Officers responded to a domestic violence call late Thursday night in Collinsville, where dispatchers heard a woman screaming and what sounded to be a gunshot before contact was lost.
Moments after the initial 911 call, a young boy ran to a neighbor’s home and said his stepfather had shot his mother. Responding officers discovered both adults inside the home with apparent gunshot wounds to the head. Investigators determined the tragedy was a murder-suicide.
TikTok Video and Final Weeks Before the Shooting
On July 11, Gilson shared a video on her TikTok account that quickly gained attention. In the clip, she sat before an empty chair in a setup mimicking a confessional documentary style.
“Preparing for when Netflix drops a documentary about my soon to be ex husband who I just found out is a pedophile.”
Sara Gilson, via NBC News
The post tapped into a popular social media trend where users pretend to sit for tell-all interviews about personal trauma or pop culture moments. Her caption added, I wish I was joking. #plottwist #netflix #documentary.
Basketball Team Allegations and Tribal Jurisdiction
The legal friction began weeks prior to the TikTok post. Another coach intervened immediately and reported the incident.
Police noted that similar conduct by this coach towards this particular juvenile player was reported to have occurred over an extended period of time, in multiple law enforcement jurisdictions, across multiple states prior to this incident. Duffey fled before officers could apprehend him.
Because Duffey was a member of the Osage tribe and the school incident occurred on tribal land, Owasso police submitted the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for review, ending the jurisdiction of the Owasso Police Department over this reported incident.
Protective Orders and Court Records
Following the initial report, police supplied Gilson with information on securing protection. On June 10, Tulsa County court records show she was granted an emergency protective order requiring Duffey to stay at least 100 yards away from her and her residence.
Court documents filed by Gilson detailed that Duffey had proceeded to threaten suicide and went on the run while carrying a firearm. Court archives also revealed that Gilson had previously filed two protective orders against him in 2021, though both were dismissed after she failed to appear at subsequent hearings.
Family Remembrance and Community Support
Family members and clients remembered Gilson as a vibrant professional and a devoted parent who built strong connections through her work as a hairstylist and her growing online storefront.
Colbi Manry, Gilson’s niece, told News On 6 that learning the news felt just gut-wrenching, earth-shattering.
Lyle Landers, the father of her two teenage children, shared on social media that Gilson was the life of the party
and dedicated entirely to her children.
“Sara was an incredible mom. Her children were the center of her world, and everything she did was for them.”
Online fundraiser organizers, via NBC News
Gilson’s son was placed into protective custody immediately following the tragedy before being released to a family member not involved in the incident. A community vigil was scheduled for Saturday evening at Morrow Elementary School in Collinsville.
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