Inset left: Billy Buford (Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office). Inset right: Douglas Smitherman (Obituary). Background: The Oklahoma City car wash where Buford killed Smitherman (Google Maps).
An Oklahoma man has been sentenced to prison after fatally beating another man with a 2×4 at an Oklahoma City car wash.
Billy Buford, 60, pleaded guilty in May to first-degree manslaughter in connection with the May 2025 death of 48-year-old Douglas Smitherman, according to a press release from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said this week that Buford was sentenced to life in prison, with all but the first 16 years suspended.
The fatal confrontation took place on May 2, 2025, at An-Son Car Wash on Northwest 122nd Street in Oklahoma City.
The day in question was a Friday, and police responded to the car wash after someone reported finding a dead body there. Initially, no arrests were made, but the victim was identified, according to a contemporaneous report by Oklahoma City-based Fox affiliate KOKH.
Police found Smitherman with injuries consistent with homicide. Buford was arrested later that month and initially faced a homicide charge.
Investigators determined that Buford repeatedly struck Smitherman in the head with a 2×4 at the car wash, which has since closed.
Authorities have not disclosed a motive. However, the two men had reportedly fought and thrown bricks at each other in the days leading up to Smitherman’s death, according to local CBS affiliate KWTV.
Smitherman’s mother remembered her son, whom relatives and friends knew as “DougE Fresh,” as an intelligent and stylish man, local ABC affiliate KOCO reported.
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“A good dresser, he dressed nice, and Dougee was borderline genius,” his mother said. “Dougee was a registered nurse, he was house supervisor here at McAlester Regional for about three years.”
Smitherman’s obituary described a life marked by academic achievement, professional dedication and service to others.
“DougE was a beloved son, father, brother, and friend. He graduated from McAlester High School in the class [of] 1995, where his teachers couldn’t believe how he maintained a 4.0 GPA despite missing many days of his senior year. His intelligence and natural talent stood out; DougE was a certified personal Trainer and worked for Gold’s gym in Oklahoma City for two years, he then earned his RN nursing degree graduating in the top 1/3 of his class from Eastern Oklahoma State College…”
His patients loved him, the obituary said, and colleagues knew him as a compassionate nurse who genuinely cared for those in his charge. Smitherman also worked as a traveling nurse at hospitals across Oklahoma, where his family said he touched many lives.
Smitherman had recently returned to Oklahoma City as he tried to rebuild his life, according to his family.
“He felt like he couldn’t make it in McAlester — he felt like everyone knew him, and he wanted to start a new life,” his mother said.
Buford entered a blind plea to the lesser manslaughter charge, meaning prosecutors and the defense had not reached an agreement on his sentence when he pleaded guilty.
The Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office said a presentencing investigation was completed shortly before Buford’s sentencing.
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