Weatherford Man Convicted of Second-Degree Manslaughter

2-251

December 7, 2021

By News Director Jared Atha

A Weatherford man who was originally charged for the murder of his girlfriend has been convicted of second-degree manslaughter, and could be out of jail soon due to time already served.

27-year-old Zackary Otto Sherwood was originally charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend.

Sherwood’s charges were later lowered to second-degree manslaughter during his bench trial that concluded on Friday.

A Custer County judge would sentence Sherwood to four years in the Department of Corrections with all but two years suspended and credit for time served. Sherwood also will be required to attend substance abuse counseling within 90 days of release, have no contact with the victim’s family and be subject to random drug testing.

Sherwood’s defense attorney Daniel Pond argued that Sherwood was trying to unload the weapon at the time of the incident, and that the shooting was unintentional.

During her final statements, District Attorney Angela Marsee would claim Sherwood was under the influence of illegal drugs at the time of the shooting, and had requested that Sherwood be charged with first-degree manslaughter.

A probable cause affidavit would show that Sherwood would tell investigators that he did chamber a shell in a 410-gauge shotgun in a Weatherford hotel room that he and the victim were in. He would state that the gun went off when he pushed the bolt to the gun forward, without his finger on the trigger.

Copyright 2021 Paragon Communications. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.

2503052058_130507

OSBI Investigates Homicide in Clinton

OSBI Press Release Clinton, OK – On March 4, 2025, the Clinton Police Department requested the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to assist in a homicide investigation. Just before 12:30 a.m., officers responded to a shots fired

2502281151_texas-fugitive-arrested-in-custer-county755882

Texas Fugitive Arrested in Custer County

Custer County, OK — A Texas fugitive accused of probation violation related to a child sexual assault case has been charged in Custer County, Oklahoma. According to court documents filed on February 19, 2025, Jess Lee Kolander,

2502271345_372990

Teacher Training Fund Established at SWOSU

Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has announced the receipt of a major charitable gift from Ms. Marilyn Allred of Oklahoma City. This generous philanthropic contribution will be used to establish an endowment that will

2502231153_1847018

Elk City House Fire Quickly Contained

Elk City, OK – At about 11:30 a.m. Friday, firefighters rushed to the 900 block of Halsey Drive after receiving a call about a house fire. Engine 3, A-shift arrived to find heavy smoke billowing from the

2502231146_2533109

The Price of Progress

By Landry Brewer Elk City, OK – As Elk City’s Downtown Construction Project moves into its next phase, downtown businesses are doing their best to meet shoppers’ needs. Crews completed work at Main & 7th and have

2502191118_1798787

Elk City Fire Department Now Hiring Paramedics

Elk City, OK – The Elk City Fire & EMS Department is actively recruiting paramedics for a dedicated paramedic-only position. This is an excellent opportunity for experienced EMTs looking to advance their careers or for licensed paramedics

2502121349_1537460

Two More Victims ID’d in Jackson Co. Crash

Officials have identified two more victims of the tragic two-vehicle collision that occurred last Thursday near Duke. According to the latest information released by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the driver of the 2021 Ford Expedition has been

2502110859_2744663

Fastenal Supports SWOSU HERC

SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Fastenal has made a generous gift of equipment in support of Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s (SWOSU) National Aeronautics & Space Administration Human Exploration Rover Challenge (NASA HERC) Team for 2024-2025. Each

2502110857_1612456

SWOSU Jazz Festival Celebrates 55 Years

SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – The 55th annual SWOSU Jazz Festival is coming up on Feb. 13–14 in Weatherford, Okla. A tradition spanning over five decades, the festival is one of the region’s most anticipated music

2502110850_2349417

Busey Brothers Make Major Gift to SWOSU

SWOSU Press Release Weatherford, OK – Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has received a generous philanthropic gift from SWOSU graduates and brothers Philip Busey, ’04, and Brian Busey, ’05, both of Oklahoma City. The Busey brothers serve