Search Warrant Error Complicates Cherokee Nation Manslaughter Case

A jurisdictional mistake forces key evidence out of court, leaving families on both sides frustrated.

Cherokee 411 Staff Report

TULSA, Okla. — A Cherokee Nation manslaughter case is facing new complications after a judge ruled that a search warrant used in the investigation was issued by the wrong jurisdiction, resulting in key evidence being suppressed.

The case stems from the April 6, 2025 death of Ryan Veysey, who was found unresponsive in a Foyil home. A Rogers County deputy responding to a medical call discovered Veysey on the bedroom floor and was unable to revive him.

Randall “Eric” Mizer 

Randall “Eric” Mizer was located in another room with minor injuries. Deputies reported indications of alcohol use and arrested him on assault and battery complaints.

Investigators obtained a search warrant signed by a Rogers County judge and collected physical evidence from the scene. A judge later determined the warrant to be invalid because the residence lies within the Cherokee Nation reservation, where only a Cherokee Nation District Court judge may issue such a warrant. The ruling excluded all evidence collected under the county warrant, and Mizer was released shortly afterward.

The Cherokee Nation Attorney General’s Office confirmed that the Nation has since filed criminal charges in tribal court, stating the case is proceeding through the Cherokee Nation District Court.

Family members of both the victim and the suspect have expressed concern that the warrant mistake could affect the fairness and outcome of the case. Relatives of Veysey say the loss of evidence has added to uncertainty surrounding the prosecution, while members of Mizer’s family worry about potential sentencing disparities tied to jurisdiction.

The situation has renewed discussion about the need for clearer coordination between state and tribal law enforcement agencies, particularly in the years following the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision, which redefined criminal jurisdiction across much of eastern Oklahoma.

Mizer is set to stand trial in January in the Cherokee Nation District Court. His attorney did not respond to requests for comment.

Cherokee 411 will continue to follow developments as the case moves forward.