Formal charges filed in Fairfax homicide

Osage County prosecutors last week formally charged two suspects in connection with the death of Heather Neuman, 60, of Fairfax.

Prosecutors charged Zack Keith Pace, 23, of Sapulpa, with first-degree murder/deliberate intent, and charged Megan Nicole Ball, 33, of Tulsa, with accessory to murder.

About three weeks ago, Fairfax police asked the Osage County Sheriff’s Office for help with the investigation of Neuman’s death. Pace and Ball were initially jailed in Cherokee County, where officers caught up with them.

Osage County investigator Terry York said in a case affidavit that he viewed Neuman’s body at her residence, in the 100 block of North 4th Street in Fairfax, on July 17 and determined she had likely been struck in the head while lying in her bed.

Two televisions and the victim’s car were missing. Investigators also learned that the victim’s bank card had been used on multiple occasions. Video evidence reportedly shows Pace and Ball using the bank card.

Investigator York said in his case affidavit that he spoke with a person to whom Pace reportedly made comments on July 15, to the effect that he had been involved in the beating death of Neuman and was trying to figure out how to dispose of her body.

Ball reportedly told investigators that Pace picked her up on July 13 in Neuman’s car and told her that he had been involved in a murder. Pace reportedly took Ball with him to Neuman’s home and