Tara Barnett-Underwood Remembered Fondly as Manhunt for Suspect in Gans Propane Company Double Homicide Intensifies

Tia Barnett is holding onto cherished memories of her sister, Tara Barnett-Underwood, who tragically lost her life along with another person during their shift at LaFerry’s Propane in Gans, Oklahoma, on June 18. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) has identified 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake as a person of interest in the case, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. The second victim, a male, has not yet been identified.

According to Barnett, Tara Barnett-Underwood was working a typical shift at LaFerry’s Propane when the tragic incident occurred. “She was there with a coworker in her office,” Barnett recounted. “[The suspect] came off the interstate to, I guess, get another vehicle to continue his spree. And hers was just right there.”

Barnett received the devastating news from Robert Underwood, Tara’s husband, while she was driving. “He was just distraught and crying, and I looked at my husband like, what? What’s going on?” Barnett recalled. Upon learning of her sister’s death, Barnett pulled over to the side of the road and began informing the rest of her family.

Despite the grief, Barnett fondly remembered her sister’s vibrant personality. “It was a lot of fun being her little sister,” Barnett said. “She was the life of the party. In school, she was the ‘it’ girl. Everyone knew who she was.”

Tara Barnett-Underwood leaves behind her husband and three children, remembered not only for her lively spirit but also for being a dedicated and loving mother. “She channeled that fun-loving personality from school into being a fun mom as well,” Barnett shared. “She was just so awesome at everything she did.”

As the Barnett family copes with their loss, the fact that the suspected killer remains at large weighs heavily on their minds. “I’m honestly scared,” Barnett confessed. “It is going to take some time to get over that fear of thinking ‘okay, he’s still out there.’”

Randy Barnett, Tara’s father, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $9,000 to assist with funeral expenses for the family. “It could happen to anyone. I hope that we get the justice that she deserves. Her family, her kids deserve the justice.”

Oklahoma officials urge anyone with information about Stacy Lee Drake’s whereabouts or details about the incident to contact the OSBI at 1-800-522-8017. The Barnett family implores the public to share any relevant information to aid in the investigation and ensure justice for Tara Barnett-Underwood and the unnamed male victim.