Self-Guided Visit
Visit the 'Murdered by Human Wolves' Grave
Self-guided daylight visit to Konawa Cemetery to see the famous Katherine Cross headstone and learn the 1917 history behind its epitaph.
- Duration:
- 30 min
Photo coming soon
True Crime Site
Konawa Cemetery — 'Murdered by Human Wolves' Grave
A Seminole County cemetery holding Oklahoma's most infamous epitaph — Katherine Cross, 1899-1917, 'Murdered by human wolves' — tied to a 1917 botched-abortion death and a tradition of strange sounds at the grave.
E Highway 39, Konawa, OK 74849
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Public cemetery, free to visit during daylight hours. The Cross grave is a well-known stop; treat the grounds respectfully.
Access
Limited Access
Rural cemetery grounds east of Konawa off Highway 39; uneven turf.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1917 · Holds the 'Murdered by human wolves' headstone of Katherine Ann Cross (1899-1917) · Tied to a 1917 death believed to result from a botched abortion · Dr. A.H. Yates was charged but acquitted/never convicted in the related cases · Subject of magazine features and the novella 'Murdered by Human Wolves' by Steven E. Wedel · Headstone stolen in 2016 and replaced by the family
Konawa Cemetery lies east of the town of Konawa along Highway 39 in Seminole County, Oklahoma. Among its graves is one of the most talked-about headstones in the state: that of Katherine Ann Cross, born March 13, 1899, and died October 10, 1917, at age eighteen. Carved into the stone are four words — 'Murdered by human wolves' — placed there on the orders of her grieving family.
Contemporary newspaper accounts and later histories (405 Magazine, the Muskogee Phoenix) indicate that Cross was about three months pregnant and is believed to have died as a result of a botched abortion. Dr. A.H. Yates, a Konawa physician, was arrested and charged in connection with the deaths of Cross and another young woman, Elsie Stone, who had died about two months earlier. In the Stone case, a jury returned a not-guilty verdict on February 23, 1918. The separate charge related to Cross was reportedly downgraded from first-degree murder to manslaughter and, according to the available record, was never tried. He was therefore never convicted in either death.
The 'human wolves' on the headstone were not a reference to any supernatural creature but the family's pointed accusation against the people they held responsible. Cross's story has since become a fixture of Oklahoma folklore and true-crime interest, the subject of magazine features and a fictionalized novella, 'Murdered by Human Wolves' by Steven E. Wedel. The headstone was stolen in 2016 and later replaced by the family.
Note on geography: this site has often been confused in folklore with 'Violet Springs' and 'Sacred Heart' cemeteries on the Pottawatomie County side; the verified grave is in Konawa Cemetery in Seminole County.
Sources
- https://www.405magazine.com/the-human-wolves-of-konawa/
- https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/remember-the-ladies-murdered-by-human-wolves/article_72692a6e-bcd7-5903-8e25-9c9ed8b16914.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Cross
- https://z94.com/oklahoma-tombstone-murdered-by-human-wolves/
Low growling sounds near the grave ('not like a dog')General sense of unease at the marker
The 'Murdered by human wolves' epitaph has long invited visitors to Konawa Cemetery, and a small body of anonymous folklore has grown up around the Cross grave. The original submission that flagged this site described hearing low growling noises near a grave reading 'murdered by human wolves' — sounds the witness specifically noted were 'not like a dog' — while lights swept the area revealed nothing. The same submission acknowledged uncertainty, and the growling claim appears only in anonymous accounts rather than in any documented investigation.
The more substantial story here is historical rather than supernatural: an eighteen-year-old woman's death in 1917, a family's furious public accusation carved in stone, and a physician charged but never convicted. We present the paranormal reports as the thin folkloric layer they are, and we treat Katherine Cross's death and the people involved with care — Dr. Yates was acquitted in the case that went to trial and was never convicted, so he is named here as a charged-but-unconvicted figure, not as an established killer.
Notable Entities
Katherine Ann Cross (1899-1917) — the young woman buried beneath the 'human wolves' epitaph
Media Appearances
- 405 Magazine feature
- Muskogee Phoenix feature
- Z94 / KLAW regional coverage
- Novella 'Murdered by Human Wolves' by Steven E. Wedel
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Konawa Cemetery — 'Murdered by Human Wolves' Grave family-friendly?
The history involves a young woman's death from a botched 1917 operation — handle the subject matter thoughtfully with younger visitors. The site itself is a quiet cemetery. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Konawa Cemetery — 'Murdered by Human Wolves' Grave?
Public cemetery, free to visit during daylight hours. The Cross grave is a well-known stop; treat the grounds respectfully. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Konawa Cemetery — 'Murdered by Human Wolves' Grave wheelchair accessible?
Konawa Cemetery — 'Murdered by Human Wolves' Grave has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Rural cemetery grounds east of Konawa off Highway 39; uneven turf..