← Back to United States casesCurtis Wickham Jr. Allegedly Murdered by Benjamin Spence, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Case Summary
Curtis “CJ” Wickham Jr., 26, died after being attacked by three pit bulls at the Tulsa home of his former girlfriend, Champaign. The dogs were owned by Champaign’s current boyfriend, Benjamin Spence. Investigators initially examined whether CJ had also been shot after a neighbor reported hearing a gunshot, but later accounts identified the shot as a warning fired by a neighbor. A witness said Spence commanded the dogs to attack CJ, while Spence denied doing so and claimed the dogs acted instinctively during a fight. Detectives later obtained a warrant for second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Spence was located and arrested after approximately three weeks as a fugitive.
Basic Information
Country: United States
State/Province: Oklahoma, United States
City/Region: Tulsa
Incident Type: Murder
Relationship Status: Love triangle
Relationship Duration:
Affair / New-Partner Context
Recorded context: Romantic-rival / love-triangle context
Reported initiator: Victim
Relationship timing: During marriage or ongoing partnership, before separation
Incident Date: Oct. 22, 2020
Relationship Journey
Relationship Origins:
- Met at school/college/university
- Friends circle
Relationship Stages:
- Dating
- Separated
Analysis
Contributing Factors:
- Cheating / Infidelity
- Drugs / Alchohol Use
- Domestic Conflict
- Suspicion of infidelity
Red Flags:
- Unusual closeness with a specific third person
- Deception after incident
- Escalation Pattern / Violence
- Suspects identified
- Threats
- Firearm Access / Concerning Weapon Behavior
- High-Conflict Household
Motives:
- Jealousy
- Fear of exposure
- Eliminate romantic rival
Relationship Outcomes:
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide before divorce
- Arrest made
- Weapon recovery
- Deadbody recovery
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Curtis Wickham Jr. Allegedly Murdered by Benjamin Spence, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Relationship Journey Graph
Origin
- Met at school/college/university
- Friends circle
How the relationship or connection began.
Status
- Love triangle
Stages
- Dating
- Separated
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Warning Signals
- Unusual closeness with a specific third person
- Deception after incident
- Escalation Pattern / Violence
- Suspects identified
- Threats
- Firearm Access / Concerning Weapon Behavior
- High-Conflict Household
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Pressure Points
- Cheating / Infidelity
- Drugs / Alchohol Use
- Domestic Conflict
- Suspicion of infidelity
- Jealousy
- Fear of exposure
- Eliminate romantic rival
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
Incident
2020-10-22
Outcome
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide before divorce
- Arrest made
- Weapon recovery
- Deadbody recovery
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
AI Intelligence Assessment
Relationship Pattern
Romantic Triangle
Pattern Analysis
The reported conflict centered on a love triangle involving Champaign, her former boyfriend CJ, and her current boyfriend Benjamin Spence. Spence reportedly objected to CJ being at the home and allegedly threatened him the day before the fatal confrontation. The incident escalated from a dispute and physical fight into a dog attack, with conflicting accounts about whether Spence intentionally directed the dogs.
Investigative Notes
Tulsa homicide detectives investigated the death of Curtis Wickham Jr. after first responders found him severely mauled by three pit bulls. A .22-caliber rifle casing was recovered in the street, creating initial uncertainty about whether CJ had also been shot; later accounts attributed the gunshot to a neighbor firing into the air to scare the dogs. Police recovered CJ's phone from Benjamin Spence's pocket, secured a warrant to search Spence's car, and obtained information that Spence had control over the dogs. Champaign later provided additional information, including a reported threatening text from Spence about stabbing CJ. Detectives presented the case to the district attorney, who authorized a warrant alleging second-degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon. Spence was released early in the investigation, then located and arrested after approximately three weeks. The source does not report a conviction or final court disposition.
Investigation Confusion
The investigation initially involved uncertainty over whether CJ died solely from the dog attack or had also been shot. Accounts differed regarding whether CJ forced entry, who threw the first punch, whether Spence commanded the dogs, and how much assistance Spence provided after the attack. Champaign initially said she did not remember hearing a command, then later said she saw Spence point toward CJ before the dogs attacked. Spence denied directing the dogs and claimed he tried to stop them.
Case Reconstruction / Puzzle Pieces
According to the source, CJ went to Champaign's home seeking his phone after previous conflict with Benjamin Spence. A confrontation occurred at the doorway or inside the home, followed by a physical fight. The dogs then attacked CJ, who moved toward the yard and was severely mauled. A witness later reported that Spence pointed toward CJ and the dogs attacked after that action. Investigators connected the relationship conflict to the phone, Champaign's continuing contact with CJ, Spence's reported jealousy and threat, the dogs' documented responsiveness to commands, and Spence's limited assistance after the attack. These facts supported the murder warrant, although the source preserves disputed accounts and does not report a final adjudication.
Risk Assessment
High reported risk involving jealousy, a romantic rival, prior threats, physical confrontation, alleged weaponized animals, and conflicting accounts after the death. The source does not independently establish every disputed fact, but the reported threat, escalation, and alleged command to attack were significant indicators.
Key Takeaways
The case illustrates how a former-partner and current-partner conflict can escalate rapidly when jealousy, ongoing contact, threats, and a physical confrontation overlap. Important source-reported warning signs included a prior threat, hostility toward a romantic rival, access to highly controllable animals, and inconsistent post-incident accounts. The evidence was unusual because the alleged weapon was a group of dogs rather than a conventional firearm or knife.
AI Case Q&A
What early signals mattered most?
The most important reported early signals were Spence's hostility toward CJ's presence with Champaign, a reported threat to stab CJ, the prior confrontation between the men, and continuing communication between Champaign and CJ. Investigators also learned that Spence had substantial control over the dogs.
Which clues helped connect the case?
The case was connected through CJ's phone, which officers reportedly recovered from Spence's pocket; the blood trail, clothing, and physical scene; Champaign's later account; the reported threatening text; the witness account that Spence pointed toward CJ; and animal-control information about the dogs responding to commands.
Which evidence types appeared strongest?
The strongest reported evidence included the recovered phone, the physical injuries and crime-scene blood trail, the dog attack, the reported threatening text, witness accounts, the .22-caliber casing, and animal-control information concerning Spence's control over the dogs. The source does not provide a complete autopsy finding or final forensic conclusion.
Witness / Eyewitness Statements
Champaign initially said CJ struck Spence and that the dogs attacked during the fight. The unnamed female witness later said Spence threw the first punch, CJ was winning the fight, and Spence said “Sic him” as they were leaving. She also confirmed that a neighbor fired the reported gunshot to scare off the dogs. Neighbors reportedly heard a gunshot. Animal-control officers reportedly said Spence had complete control over the dogs and that they responded to commands.
How did follow-up reports change the understanding?
Follow-up interviews changed the understanding from a possible accidental or instinctive dog attack to a reported intentional use of the dogs. Champaign later disclosed that Spence allegedly threw a television at CJ after the attack, provided a threatening text from the previous day, and said she saw Spence point toward CJ before the dogs attacked. Animal-control information about the dogs' responsiveness to commands further influenced investigators. The source does not report the final court outcome.
What remained unclear?
It remained unclear whether Spence explicitly commanded the dogs, whether the dogs attacked because of instinct or direction, the precise sequence of the fight, and whether CJ entered the home forcibly. The source also does not report the final autopsy details, the result of the car search, or a conviction or trial disposition.