Convicted murderer Dan Triplett sentenced to life in prison

Convicted murderer Dan Triplett was back in the same Logan County courtroom Friday morning where 12 jurors found him guilty in the shooting death of Brent Mack less than two months ago.

Mack, who worked for Triplett’s septic tank business, was reported missing to the Guthrie Police Department on Sept. 29, 2021, after his daughter said that no one had seen or heard from him since Sept. 20.

With the recovery of surveillance cameras and other circumstantial evidence, Triplett was found guilty of shooting and burying Mack under a septic tank in rural northern Logan County near Mulhall. Triplett claimed he shot Mack in self-defense after Mack pointed a gun at him inside the hole.

Jurors needed just two hours to come back with a guilty verdict for the former Guthrie city councilman.

In a formal sentence hearing, District Judge Phillip Corley followed up with the jury’s recommendation and sentenced Triplett to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder conviction. The judge also added a seven-year sentence and an $8,000 fine for the desecration of a body.

All penalties handed down were the maximum allowed by law.

The judge ruled the sentences will run concurrently for the 68-year-old. After remanding him back to Logan County deputies, Triplett turned to his family showing no emotion and giving a flat stare.

Triplett entered the courtroom cuffed and shackled while wearing his jail-issued orange jumpsuit.

15 members of Brent Mack’s family watched the proceeding, while 10 family members of the Triplett family were present.

Troy Franklin, the brother of Mack, read his victim impact statement.

“I want you to know who my brother was. He was a father, a brother, a son, and had many friends. His life was stripped away by this evil so-called city council member. This is not the first life he has taken and I pledged to my family to find out more.”

Franklin looked over to Triplett and said, “He made a mockery of his life. You killed him, making him a missing person and saying ‘well you just have to find him’. Well, we found him. How would you like to go 30 days of not knowing, hours of traveling, searching, then we finally found him.”

Franklin continued as he looked over to Triplett again, “I was in my office when my niece called and said ‘have you heard from or seen my dad?’ I’ll never forget it. You have no idea what you have done. I will find out the truth as to why you killed him.”

The brother requested the judge to punish Triplett more than the law would allow but understood that was not an option.

“I ask you to give him what the jury recommends, life without the possibility of parole even though he deserves more.”

Next, it was Triplett’s turn to address the court.

He first turned to the gallery and said, “Yes I have regret and my condolences to the family but it was his (Mack) actions that caused this tragic death to happen.”

Triplett began sharing his displeasure toward state agencies, his attorney, the investigation, and jurors.

Triplett said the Medical Examiner did not do a gun residue test. He says he has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from almost dying in the altercation that he says took place down in the hole.

He told the judge that his stand-your-ground defense was denied, the change of venue was denied, the crime scene was never recreated, did not have enough time to present a defense, did not have one expert witness, that his attorney did a poor job, and that the muzzle flash was never investigated.

Triplett moved on to the jurors saying if they should have watched the evidence video of Mack at him at the septic tank on a laptop instead of a television because they could have seen more. He said the video was blown up and distorted.

He added the jurors did not have enough time to deliberate, and only found him guilty because they didn’t want to be the jury who caused a race riot.

Triplett continued his displeasure toward the jury by telling the judge one of the jurors was friends with multiple people and had to have known Mack through various relationships.

He finished by saying one of his witnesses (Ron Shipman) was never called to testify by his attorney and finished by complaining about a GoFundMe account that was set up for Mack.

Assistant District Attorney J.R. Kalka spoke with the Mack family afterward and told them he was with their grace throughout the process.

“I’m so proud of all of you,” Kalka said. “I’m so sorry this is why we are here, but we got justice for your brother, for your dad, and your extended family.”

Kalka told the family he expects Triplett to appeal the case, but that he doesn’t expect another trial will take place.