Forgiving the killers of a young couple

Police say the two men arrested on murder charges showed no remorse for their alleged crimes.

Darren Price, 19, and Jerard “Jirao” Davis are accused of ambushing, robbing and shooting a young couple at Hicks Park in east Tulsa on Sunday night.

The bodies of Ethan Nichols, 21, and Carissa Horton, 18, were found on the jogging trail the next day by a couple walking their dog.

Tulsa Police patrol, homicide detectives and the Northern Oklahoma Violent Crimes Task Force tracked down Darren Price just hours after the bodies were found, he was in Ethan’s car.

Police arrested Davis not long after Price’s arrest and found the suspected murder weapon inside his apartment, not far from Hicks Park.

In an interview Tuesday, the parents of Ethan and Carissa share their children’s story and their dedication to Christ.

Ethan worked at Blue Bell Creamery and had his Associates degree and wanted to be a graphic designer. His family says he loved Frisbee golf and was an active guy.

Carissa was a freshman at ORU and her parents say she was nervous about earning credit for physical education. She was majoring in music and moved to Tulsa on August 2nd.

Carissa and Ethan enjoyed jogging together, that’s why they were at Hicks Park Sunday night.

Carissa’s father says he talked to her earlier that Sunday; she called to sing an early birthday song. “That was the last time I talked to her. She said ‘well Daddy I'll talk to you later… we want to go the concert,’” says Carissa’s father Rod Horton.

They were headed to a Christian piano concert and Ethan, who always wore tennis shoes, wanted to impress Carissa. "He bought brand new dress shoes so they could be there together,” says Ethan’s mother Teresa Nichols.

Carissa wrote and performed Christian music and always had her guitar. "She loved Ethan. Her world was beautiful. I think for the first time in her life she was exceptionally happy,” says Carissa’s mother Susan Gardner.

The two were from a small town Keokuk, IA but didn’t know each other until recently. Their parents did and when Carissa got accepted to ORU, his mom asked him to help Carissa get adjusted.
"If he got to know you he would do anything for you. He did everything he could to lighten up anything,” says Mrs. Nichols.

Before she moved the pair exchanged Facebook messages, then text messages and then started talking on the phone. Their families say the couple prayed together every night before they got off the phone. They say the couple was destined to be together.

"There will be hard times and a love story," says Mrs. Nichols. Carissa’s mother believes this is where Carissa was destined to be, "Their lives started here. It bloomed and blossomed then it is snuffed out mercilessly,” says Mrs. Gardner.

A tragic love story of two young people whose love for Christ brought them together and was taken away by two robbers who gunned them down.

"We know with all of our hearts the moment the triggers were pulled that they were in heaven,” says Mrs. Nichols.

Police say the suspects, Darren Price and Jerard Davis, showed no remorse.

“They are right where they need to be in this society. We need to warehouse them and that's where they need to be for the rest of their life. If there is any case for a death penalty case this would be one of them," says Tulsa Police Homicide Sergeant Dave Walker.

Ethan’s father is fighting to forgive the men who took away his youngest child.
"I know I have to forgive to be forgiven but I can't find it in my heart for them to,” says Scott Nichols. Ethan’s mother believes he will find forgiveness.

“I can't say I want them condemned to hell because that wouldn't be any better. If they have a chance to know Christ, and really truly know Christ then they will know and realize and feel the anguish they have they have caused by killing absolutely two loving and innocent, wonderful kids," says Mrs. Nichols. "It is so important for us to know, we cannot, I will allow none of my family to see revenge or seek hatred in their hearts because that is Satan. We wouldn't be any better for them.”

Carissa’s mother believes all the anger in the world will still not bring her daughter and her boyfriend back.

"Tulsa needs to know that these were two innocent children. Not doing anything wrong. Their lives were taken in a horrifying way,” says Mrs. Nichols.

They warn others that this can happen to any innocent person. “Continue to remind their kids not to put themselves in a vulnerable position," says Mr. Nichols.
"Don't turn your back on anybody it's just not right. If Tulsa can step up and take hold of that and at least love each other a little bit maybe we can stop some of this next time,” says Mrs. Nichols.

One of the suspects was so bold that he was seen at the park while police were on the murder scene. A reporter even interviewed Darren Price about the murders; he made-up a story about being scared by what happened and not wanting to bring his children to the park.

Price and Davis are charged with two counts of First-Degree Murder and two counts of Robbery. Their bond has been raised to $2,050,000 and are currently in jail.

A memorial service will be held for Ethan Nichols and Carissa Horton on Saturday at their Church, Destiny Church, in Broken Arrow at 11 a.m.

Carissa will be buried in her hometown Keokuk, IA.

Darren Price and Jerard Davis are scheduled for September 27th.