Photo Courtesy of Dallam County Sheriff’s Department
In Dalhart, Texas, a place where folks don’t lock their doors and everyone knows your mama, the idea of a daughter murdering her father seemed impossible—until Camilla Frazier‑Tidrow made it horrifyingly real. In 2017, this once-beloved local became the center of one of the most chilling murder cases the Texas Panhandle had ever seen.
A Disappearance That Didn’t Add Up
Joel Frazier, a 65-year-old rancher, was reported missing in July 2017. His daughter Jamie quickly sounded the alarm. His truck, wallet, medicine, and cowboy hat were all still at the house. But Camilla? She brushed it off, saying her daddy had just gone drinking.
That didn’t sit right. And police agreed.
Tensions in the Home and a Brewing Storm
Camilla Frazier Tidrow and her husband, Kory Tidrow, had moved into Joel’s home not long before. What started as a helping hand turned toxic. Rumors swirled about the couple using meth. The relationship between Joel and Camilla was rocky—and it was about to blow up.
The real bombshell? A new, unsigned will was found in Camilla’s purse. Joel had planned to cut her out and leave everything to Jamie. That’s when Camilla made her deadly choice.
The Milkshake, The Murder, and the Cover-Up
Police say Camilla first tried to drug Joel by slipping crushed Benadryl into his nightly milkshakes. When that didn’t do the trick, she and Kory shot him—once with a .22, and again with a .45 to finish him off.
They hid his body in a broken-down meat plant incinerator and tried to destroy the evidence.
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A Chilling Discovery and a Key Witness
Four months later, investigators found Joel’s remains—burned bones, including part of a skull and hand. Forensic teams confirmed what everyone feared: Joel had been murdered and burned.
Benjamin Buck, a local meat plant worker, came forward and testified against Camilla and Kory. He said Kory called him to bring a wheelbarrow and sheet. When Buck arrived, he saw Camilla scrubbing blood at Joel’s house. That testimony sealed their fate.
Justice for Joel
Kory Tidrow was convicted in October 2019 and sentenced to life in prison. In December 2019, Camilla received the same sentence—life without the possibility of parole. Buck received a plea deal with immunity in exchange for his testimony.
From Rodeo Queen to Convicted Killer
Camilla once wore a crown. She smiled in family photos. She was known around town. But beneath the surface was a woman spiraling out of control—bitter, drug-fueled, and blinded by greed.
Her father gave her a home. She repaid him with bullets.
This wasn’t just a crime—it was a betrayal that rocked an entire community.
Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.
