Bixby lights up Harmony Bridge purple in memory of homicide victim

By John Dobberstein, Editor

The city of Bixby lit up Harmony Bridge in purple Tuesday night to remember Kara Ballard, the victim of a homicide in Bixby Sunday. 

Purple was Kara's favorite color, the city said, and it's also the color domestic violence awareness.

"Our hearts go out to her family and all victims of needless violence," the Bixby Police Department said in a post Tuesday. 

Kara, 40, of Whitefield, Okla., was found dead Sunday in a vehicle at Washington Irvin Memorial Park. Her 33-year-old husband, Travis Glenn Ballard, 33, was arrested in connection with the homicide, which is being investigated by Bixby police and OSBI. 

Kara Nichole Ballard

Bixby police received information Sunday evening from the Tulsa Police Department about locating a vehicle in Bixby to check the welfare of the occupants, including Kara, 40. Kara reportedly told her daughter she was traveling with her husband and was potentially at a park near the Arkansas River in Bixby.

Officers immediately began checking the area and located a vehicle in the park, finding Kara inside. Travis Ballard was arrested in Pryor hours later after a short chase with the Pryor Creek Police Department. Court records show Travis Ballard and Kara Nichole Ward were married in 2019.

Ballard was arrested last year on counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 1 year in the Haskell County Jail, but was released in February, according to court records.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and need help, please call 918-7HELP-ME, or 918-743-5763.