OKLAHOMA CITY / CLEVELAND COUNTY – A metro couple from northeastern Cleveland County has been arrested and booked for second-degree murder in the death of a nine-year-old boy that police say was the result of child abuse.
Late on the night of April 8th, nine-year-old Ruger Boude was checked into an OKC hospital with severe injuries that were determined to be consistent with child abuse.
Oklahoma City police were called to the hospital to investigate, where they interviewed 38-year-old Alicia Busey, the boy’s mother, and 43-year-old Steven Duty, Busey’s partner, on suspicion of possible child neglect or abuse.
Two days later, Boude succumbed to his injuries and died in the hospital.
After investigators determined that Boude’s death would be carried as a homicide, Busey and Duty were arrested on April 29th and booked into the Cleveland County Jail, where their bonds were set at $5 million each.
The Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office has charged both Alicia Busey and Steven Duty on counts of child neglect and second-degree murder.
The death of Ruger Jay Andrew Boude has been recorded as Oklahoma City’s 23rd homicide in 2026.
Note: Oklahoma City Police Department information lists Ruger Boude’s day of death as April 10th, but public obituary information lists April 11th.
Charges, information, or claims made by law enforcement have not yet been tested in court. Under the law, all persons are considered innocent until proven guilty before a jury of their peers or a plea of guilt.
Brett Fieldcamp is the owner and Editor in Chief of Oklahoma City Free Press. He has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly two decades and served as Arts & Entertainment Editor before purchasing the company from founder Brett Dickerson in 2026.
He is also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
