Ottawa County woman fails to show up for sentencing

MAMI, Okla. — An Ottawa County woman implicated in the death of her husband’s girlfriend failed to appear in court on Wednesday for a sentencing hearing.

Charlana Nichelle Kelly, 54, of Miami, pleaded guilty in February to accessory to felony murder in the death of Toni Moran by providing a false alibi to investigators about her husband.

Kelly was set to appear before District Judge Jennifer McAffrey where she faces up to 22 ½ years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

When she failed to appear, McAffrey issued a no-bond warrant.

There was some discussion Kelly was hospitalized but McAffrey did not receive any hospital documentation during the hearing confirming Kelly was hospitalized.

Kelly’s husband, Jimmy Kelly Jr., and Moran, 47, also known as Tony Elizabeth Torres, of North Miami and Quapaw, were involved in an extramarital affair.

Moran died from multiple gunshot wounds to her head and body on Nov. 1, 2021.  Her autopsy report said Moran’s body had 12 abrasions, including a laceration to the victim’s tongue and a contusion to the left side of her head. A toxicology report showed Moran had methamphetamine in her system and a trace of amphetamine. Antidepressants were also detected in Moran’s system, but not confirmed.

Jimmy Kelly was sentenced in June 2023 in US District Court in Tulsa to 303 months, or more than 25 years, for second-degree murder in Indian Country and 120 months, or 10 years, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, for Moran’s brutal slaying.

Kelly’s new sentences will run concurrently but won’t begin until he serves 57 months for violating the terms of his release on a 1991 murder conviction.

Charlana’s husband of over five years, Jimmy Kelly Jr., told federal investigators he was having a “relationship” with Moran.  Charlana became jealous and “arranged a confrontation” between both women, according to federal court records.

Moran met Jimmy Kelly on an Ottawa County rural county road on Oct. 31 for the purpose of using methamphetamine, according to federal court documents.

Prison Time

Jimmy Kelly and Moran had met while both in prison.

In 1991 Jimmy Kelly was convicted of murder for the beating death of Vernon C. Moyer, of Picher. Testimony showed Kelly beat Moyer with a tire jack and nearly decapitated the man decimating his neck, larynx and voice box. Kelly then disposed of the body in a nearby pond.

Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison and was released on April 30, 2018, where he began serving five years of supervised release, according to court records.

Moran was being held in the Oklahoma Forensic Center in Vinita in connection with the drowning death of her 17-month-old son, Alex.  In October 2004, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of her son and was committed to a mental hospital. She was released from the mental hospital seven years later because it was ruled, she was no longer a danger.

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