Bert Michael Lana (Mike) was a sophomore at Duncan High School when Tama Hallmark (a senior) was attacked. Lana's father was a popular and well-respected junior high football coach. His mother, an elementary school teacher. As one news article of the day pointed out, "both she and her husband have Master's degrees."
Tama Hallmark, who did not know Mike Lana personally, had picked Lana out of a police line-up. Lana was placed in a line-up five separate times, dressed differently each time. Hallmark did not identify him the first time. Earl Goerke, State Crime Bureau director, said that this could have been due to poor communication with her or because of the stress she was under emotionally. During this time, Hallmark would only respond to questions with tears and not words. Hallmark would later identify Lana from a volume of the Duncan High School yearbook, "Smoke Rings."
On October 21, 1964, sixteen year-old Bert Michael Lana was charged with the January 6 attack of Tama Hallmark. Lana was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. He was released on a $3,000 dollar bond.
At his arraignment, Lana pled not guilt to the charges. A preliminary hearing was then set for November 12, 1964.
The Oklahoma State Crime Bureau submitted a a stained jacket and knife belonging to Lana to laboratory analysis.
Bert Michael Lana was eventually acquitted due to lack of evidence.
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