Bio

Dion Athanasius Smallwood was born on August 15, 1969. He grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

As a young adult, Smallwood began a relationship with Terri Jo Frederick. Their relationship lasted for about a year, beginning in January 1991. During this time, there were numerous reported incidents of physical abuse. Friends and family noted that Smallwood struggled with feelings of anger and jealousy. This toxicity in the relationship likely contributed to the strain between Smallwood and Terri's family, especially her adoptive mother, Lois Frederick.

Lois Frederick openly disapproved of Smallwood and his relationship with her daughter. She often expressed concern for Terri's safety, which led to multiple conflicts. Neighbors were aware of the ongoing issues between Lois and Terri, and the police had been called to their home several times to resolve disputes. These tensions continued to escalate and eventually culminated in a tragic event in their lives.

About a month before the incident that changed everything, Terri had moved back in with her mother. Smallwood was aware of this change and reportedly felt resentment toward Lois for attempting to keep him away from Terri. The dynamics of these relationships, along with Smallwood's background, set the stage for a significant turning point in his life.

Murder Story

On February 5, 1992, Dion Athanasius Smallwood entered the home of Lois Frederick in Oklahoma City without an invitation. Lois, who was 68 years old, was the adoptive mother of Smallwood's ex-girlfriend. Smallwood had a troubled history with Lois, as she disapproved of his relationship with her daughter.

That afternoon, when Lois confronted Smallwood and asked him to leave, they got into a physical altercation. Smallwood pushed Lois, causing her to stumble and fall. In a fit of rage, he grabbed a croquet mallet and struck her in the head, rendering her unconscious. Afterward, he placed her body in the back seat of her car.

As he was trying to conceal his actions, Lois's family became concerned for her safety. They contacted the police, urging them to check on Lois because Smallwood had threatened her daughter. However, by the time the police arrived, Smallwood had hidden and escaped with Lois's body still in the car.

Later that evening, Smallwood drove the car to a rural area, doused it in gasoline, and set it on fire. Firefighters and police responded to the scene of the car fire and discovered the remains of Lois Frederick inside. An autopsy confirmed she had died from blunt force trauma and smoke inhalation.

Immediately after the fire, Smallwood was arrested when he was found near the scene. Throughout the subsequent investigation, it was revealed that Smallwood had a history of violence and had been abusive to Lois's daughter during their relationship. On January 18, 2001, Smallwood was executed by lethal injection for the murder of Lois Frederick.