The investigation soon focused on Orville Jack Dobkins, who lived in an adjacent apartment and had visited Sturgill at approximately 9:00 p.m. on the evening of the murder. On October 24, Dobkins was arrested and charged with Sturgill’s murder. The State also filed a request for the death penalty. Dobkins provided dental impressions which were compared to the bite marks on Sturgill’s body. Dr. Marlin issued a report on December 18, 1990, concluding that “within the bounds of a reasonable medical certainty, the teeth of Jack Dobkins match the various bite marks on the body of Shirley Sturgill.” On May 15, 1991, Dr. Mark Bernstein examined the work of Dr. Marlin. Dr. Bernstein concluded that the comparisons offered “good supporting evidence to implicate Mr. Dobkins but could not alone prove, to a degree of reasonable medical certainty, that Dobkins made the bites.” The State dismissed the charges against Dobkins on May 16, 1991.

At the time of Sturgill’s death, her daughter Angie Carr was married to Carr. By 1994 Angie and Carr had divorced and on August 3, 1994, Angie told Detective Bill Dwenger that Carr left their family’s trailer at about noon on October 6, 1990, and did not return until late that night. When he returned, Carr took off his clothes, put them in the washing machine, and showered. Carr and Angie went to bed about forty-five minutes later. After lying in bed for a few minutes, Carr rose, walked to a gun cabinet, took out a rifle, and pointed it at Angie’s head. Carr told Angie that he had “hurt” or “took care of” her mother. He said he would kill her and their daughters if she ever said anything. He then grabbed her by her hair, walked her to their daughters’ bedroom, pointed the gun at the girls, and reiterated that he meant what he had said.