A Blue Day in Checotah: The Loss of a Legend and a Town in Mourning
June 11, 2025 – Checotah, Oklahoma
A chilling tragedy has shaken the heart of Oklahoma’s music and cultural community. Authorities have arrested Louis Guenther, who, according to investigators, admitted to the brutal murder of his sister — Sue Minner, a beloved blues icon, educator, and trailblazer whose legacy helped shape generations of musicians across the state and beyond.
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What Authorities Say Happened
The investigation began on the morning of June 10th, when Muskogee County deputies received a disturbing call about a man sitting motionless for hours at the Honey Springs Battlefield near Rentiesville. Eyewitnesses described the man as covered in blood and holding a hammer. When law enforcement arrived, the man reportedly offered a haunting confession:
“I killed my sister.”
Guenther told deputies that the murder had occurred at his sister’s home in Checotah, prompting a swift response from local and state investigators. When officers arrived at the residence, they found Sue Minner dead inside.
According to an affidavit obtained by local media, Guenther confessed to premeditating the attack the day before. He said he struck Minner multiple times with a hammer, and when she continued to move, he used a knife to stab her in the eye. After the killing, he traveled to the battlefield and stayed overnight before being discovered by law enforcement the next morning.
Guenther was taken into custody without resistance. He now faces charges of first-degree murder. While shocking, it’s important to note that these are still charges, not convictions, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Remembering Sue Minner: A Life That Sang the Blues and So Much More
The death of Sue Minner has left the Oklahoma arts community stunned and heartbroken. Minner wasn’t just another name in the music world — she was the beating heart of it, especially in Rentiesville, where she co-founded the Down Home Blues Club and the iconic Dusk ’til Dawn Blues Festival with her late husband, blues legend D.C. Minner.
The two performed together as Blues on the Move, a soulful, passionate duo that toured the world but always came home to invest in their roots. Whether it was a festival stage in Europe or a school gym in rural Oklahoma, Sue and D.C. brought not only the music but the stories — teaching history, culture, and community through their widely respected “Blues in the Schools” program.
Sue was a co-creator of the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame, dedicating her life to honoring the artists who paved the way and to educating those just beginning to find their voice. For many in Checotah, Rentiesville, and beyond, she was a mentor, a friend, and a source of relentless light.
“She taught us the blues wasn’t about sadness — it was about survival, about soul, about turning pain into power,” said one former student. “She lived the music.”
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A State in Mourning
As news of the murder ripples through Oklahoma, grief is deep and widespread. Messages of condolence and remembrance have poured in from musicians, educators, and civic leaders. Fans and former students are already leaving flowers, notes, and guitars outside the Down Home Blues Club, where Sue performed so many unforgettable sets.
“This is a loss we can’t put into words,” said one longtime friend. “She gave everything to this state — to its culture, its kids, its music. And now, she’s gone, in the most unthinkable way.”
Many are still struggling to comprehend how such a beacon of community strength could meet such a tragic end — and at the hands of her own brother. The emotional weight is especially heavy in Muskogee County and the surrounding areas, where Minner’s legacy is deeply personal.
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Looking Ahead
As the legal process begins and the investigation continues, the Minner family, friends, and the community at large will begin the long road toward healing. Memorial events are expected to be announced in the coming days, and many are already calling for her legacy to be honored through expanded arts and music education in the state.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma arts community and everyone touched by Sue Minner’s voice, her teachings, and her unwavering dedication to the blues are left holding a sorrow that echoes through every note she ever sang.
We will continue to follow this devastating story as new details emerge.
#JusticeForSue #ChecotahNews #OklahomaBluesLegend #DuskTilDawnFestival #BluesInTheSchools #InMemory