Baily Bollenbach probably won’t find forgiveness because he knows his mother is gone forever.

But he took some small solace Wednesday when he made the man who took her life very uncomfortable in a courtroom setting.

Joseph Gregory Hayslip, 39, will serve life in prison for the murder of Peggy Bollenbach.

Hayslip made the plea agreement Wednesday in Kingfisher County District Court, ending a sad saga that began late Aug. 3, 2023, when he was arrested on a murder complaint.

Earlier that day, Bollenbach’s lifeless body was found in a room at the Cattlemen’s Inn.

She had been stabbed to death and, after a brief investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Hayslip, her boyfriend, was arrested.

He was formally charged Aug. 8 with first degree murder and arraigned in March. Hayslip, who listed Kingfisher as his residence on previous felony charges, waived his right to a preliminary hearing during a court appearance Feb. 27 and sources told the Times & Free Press he was close to accepting a plea deal.

That came Wednesday. Hayslip will be eligible for parole as part of the agreement, but will be nearly 80 years old when that day comes.

The state of Oklahoma considers a life sentence to be 45 years. By state law, Hayslip is required to serve at least 85 percent of that sentence, equating to just over 38 years.

District Attorney Tommy Humphries doesn’t expect Hayslip to see another day of freedom in his life.

“We fully expect he will spend the rest of his life in prison, which was one of the considerations when we accepted this,” Humphries told the Times & Free Press.

He commended those in his office, including Assistant District Attorney Jimmy Bunn, as well as the Kingfisher Police Department and the OSBI.

“They built a solid case that allowed us to get Mr. Hayslip to take this guilty plea and spend the rest of his life in prison,” Humphries said.

“Hopefully the family can find some peace in that fact.”

Members of Bollenbach’s family were in the courtroom Wednesday when the plea agreement was made.

Among them were her parents, George and Jeanne Holt.

Also there were both of her sons, Baily and Drew Bollenbach, as well as her sister, Kandy Cochran.

Those three read victim impact statements prior to District Judge Paul Woodward signing off on the deal.

After the proceeding, Baily Bollenbach posted about the ordeal on Facebook.

“It was an emotional day for sure. I am still not able to forgive him and I don’t know if I ever will,” Baily wrote. “But I know this man squirmed in his cuffs as we spoke about the impact his actions caused on ours and our families’ lives.”

On Thursday, Baily told the Times & Free Press his mother was “my go-to no matter what and he (Hayslip) knew that.”

When asked what message he wanted Hayslip to take from his statement, Baily said: “That my mother was the best thing that ever had and would ever happen to him. She loved him all the way to her death. I can only imagine her last hour alive.”

Cochran said her sister was a “sweet soul” who saw the good in everyone.

“Our family and everyone she knew lost a bright, shining star in our lives,” she told the Times & Free Press.

“Evil took her that day, but evil did not win. I’m choosing not to hate, but [Continued From Page 1]

choosing forgiveness,” Cochran said.

“No sentence passed down to him will bring her back, but I’m thankful Baily, Drew and my parents witnessed justice being served.”