Suspect indicated in multiple crimes

Woman charged with hiding body in freezer reportedly used Ricin in burglary

By Jeri Pearson

A woman arrested on charges of killing her Oklahoma roommate and hiding her body in a freezer in Polk County is facing additional charges in Wisconsin.

On May 19, Wagoner County Oklahoma Investigators were contacted by the Wisconsin Dane County Sheriff’s Office in reference to Kore D Bommeli. It was discovered that additional charges were brought against her for a 2014 incident.

The information received stated that on or about March or April 2014 Bommeli was implicated in a burglary in Dane County, Wisconsin, where she reportedly left white powder residue in numerous locations during the alleged burglary. Wisconsin Court Records show she pled guilty to charges stemming from the 2014 incident.

In July of 2020, Wagoner County Investigators contacted Dane County investigators in reference to a missing persons case. It was discovered that the victim from 2014 had some of the remaining white powder from the burglary that had occurred. 

Upon the FBI testing the substance it was discovered that the white powder was Ricin, resulting in the Wisconsin National Guard was contacted, and specialists were called to assist with collection of any further evidence. 

FAST FACTS about Ricin: 

Initial symptoms of ricin poisoning by inhalation may occur as early as 4- 8 hours and as late as 24 hours after exposure. 

Death from ricin poisoning could take place within 36 to 72 hours of exposure, depending on the route of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, or injection) and the dose received.

Wagoner County and Dane County investigators continued to work with the FBI and Arkansas State Police to collect evidence.

Bommeli’s anticipated charges are two counts of attempted First Degree Intentional Homicide. 

In addition to the Warrant Hold from Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Bommeli is in custody, suspected of killing her roommate, Talina Galloway, age 53, and hiding the victim in a freezer on rural property in Polk County.

Polk County Sheriff Scott Sawyer said his deputies responded to a trespassing call June 8, 2020 to a property that was for sale.

“My deputy responded to that call and found one individual and a truck,” Sawyer said. “At that time, the individual said she was at the property because it was for sale and she was interested in purchasing it. There was no reason to detain her, but the tags on the truck were run and nothing came back.”

Due to a lack of information being available, there was no way for Polk County to know Bommeli or the truck were associated with a missing person case from Wagoner.

“The freezer was not found at that time.” Sawyer explained. “When it was found in January, it was 100 yards into the woods, and very unlikely she would have been able to move the freezer by herself.”

Sawyer said he has since learned Bommeli attempted to purchase the property and was in Polk County on occasion, but this information was not available to his office before the body was discovered.

Galloway was reported missing April 17, 2020 by Bommeli in Wagoner County. 

The two lived in a lake community area of Wagoner County located on the west side of Fort Gibson Lake.

Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office said, “Galloway did not have any immediate family members in the Wagoner County area, so naturally we believed her roommate would be the best source of information …Kore Bommeli was merely a witness and the person reporting. ..

“…investigators soon realized [she]exhibited suspicious behavior, gave inconsistent statements, and later was proven to be deceptive in her reporting of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.. and Bommeli became a person of interest.

The Wagoner County Sheriff said in a press release that, “On June 8, 2020, a witness in the area of Polk County Arkansas observed a pickup towing a small, enclosed trailer. … The witness was suspicious of the activity and walked into the area where the witness believed the truck had traveled to. The witness located the truck and trailer and observed that at that time, there was nobody around the vehicle. The witness documented the tag number on the vehicle, and noted that there was foul odor coming from the trailer, and that there was a foul-smelling thick liquid pooled in the floor of the trailer.”

On Thursday, Jan.14, 2021, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a report of a freezer being found in a wooded area north of Acorn. Upon arrival, deputies opened the freezer and discovered human remains.

“Based on evidence at the scene and witness statements, it was determined that the remains had been there for several months,” Sawyer said. “Further investigation determined that the remains were possibly connected to a missing persons case in Wagoner, Oklahoma.”

The Arkansas State Police assisted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in processing the scene and recovering the body. Investigators from the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office were contacted and also came to the scene.

Galloway’s disappearance was featured in Dateline’s “Missing in America” on May 25, 2020.

In June of 2020, Bommeli, was named as a person of interest in Galloway’s disappearance. At the time of Sheriff Elliot’s press conference, Bommeli was in custody on several charges including: felon in possession of a firearm, destruction of evidence, obstruction, fraud, and larceny. 

On Thursday, January 21, 2021, warrants for 1st Degree Murder and Abuse of a Corpse were issued for Kore Bommeli by the Wagoner County Prosecuting Attorney, Jack Thorp. 

Wagoner County investigators began searching for Bommeli who had bonded out on previous charges. Bommeli was believed to be in the area of Dane County, Wisconsin. Dane County Sheriff’s located Bommeli and she was arrested without incident.

Bommeli faces charges of Murder in the 1st Degree and Desecration of a Human Corpse. 

“The Wagoner Oklahoma Sheriff’s Office has been working very hard on this case since last summer. They’ve done a great job and I am very happy that we could help them close out this tragic case and bring those responsible to justice,” Sawyer said.

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