Kriti Mehrotra
When 30-year-old Makayla Fay Meave went missing from her Macomb, Oklahoma, home on September 15, 2023, it left her family puzzled owing to how uncharacteristic it was for her. As explored in CBS’ ’48 Hours: Tracker Dakota Black,’ she was a devoted family woman, a hardworking teacher’s aide, and a mother of 6 children from a blended brood, so she seemed content. Therefore, of course, when her remains were found not far from the 100-acre property she shared with her then-husband, Frank Byers, 5 days later, her family was shattered.
Makayla Meave Hails From an Affectionate and Supportive Family
Makayla Meave was born on June 15, 1993, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Barbara Sue Ezell Harper and Michael Kevin Downs as one of their three children. However, alongside sisters Andria Meave and Magan Meave Degraffenried, she primarily grew up in Lexington, Cleveland County, where she also attended school. She graduated in the summer of 2011, following which she chose to pursue her passion for teaching by earning a degree in the same field and then kick-starting her career. She eventually settled down in Macomb, where she became a Teacher’s Aide Paraeducator in the local school district, which her loved ones were very proud of her for.
According to records, Makayla’s parents sadly parted ways at some point while their children were growing up, but they managed to keep their separation very cordial. In fact, so as to be able to provide their children with the best possible life, they even established an amicable co-parenting relationship, the foundation of which was care and respect. Therefore, by the time both Barbatra and Michael decided to move on with new partners, they were very clear in their roles, resulting in their children getting two unique yet devoted sets of parents. While Barbara eventually settled down with a man named Scott Harper, Michael tied the knot with a woman called Sonja Downs.
Makayla Meave’s Family Never Believed She Had Simply Disappeared
When Makayla’s parents and siblings heard the news of her disappearance, they were left utterly shaken owing to how uncharacteristic and scary it was for her to suddenly vanish. They told officials that she never would have willingly left the two children she had adopted or the 4 girls who became hers through marriage, driving them to inquire further. The family also refuted her husband Frank Byers’ claims about them being in an open marriage because they knew she had recently asked him for a divorce upon learned of his alleged infidelity. She reportedly didn’t want to continue her union with Frank, but she only moved out to the shed on their property so as to continue being a present mother for her daughter Adriean Vinson, son Brian Vinson, and his 4 girls – Daisy, Lily, Chloe, and Zoe.
Since then, Makayla’s mother, Barbara, has come forward to assert that while she did not see any signs of domestic violence back then, there were clues to it in hindsight. In an interview with News9, she said her daughter often had bruises on her skin, was seemingly manipulated, and was forced to do things under the pressure of threats, but they didn’t recognize them at the time. She admittedly holds a lot of guilt over this, stating, “It’s not just heart-wrenching for a mother, it’s eye-opening for anyone to look in and say, what could have been prevented?” Nevertheless, when she heard Makayla had gone missing, she never looked for her; she only looked for her remains because she knew in her heart that something terrible had transpired.
Makayla Meave’s Family Continues to Fight For What They Believe to be Justice
Apart from feeling immense grief and pain when Makayla’s remains were discovered near her property on September 20, 2023, her family also breathed a sigh of relief as they got some answers. They were able to learn that she had been killed with two bullets to the head before her remains were wrapped in a carpet and disposed of, which then enabled officers to look at the case as a homicide. A little over a month later, on October 25, 2023, her husband, Frank Byers, was arrested for her murder, and he pleaded guilty in exchange for life in prison on January 31, 2025. Makayla’s family was present at almost every court hearing to ensure everyone was aware of what had been taken from them, but the case’s conclusion didn’t bring them any sense of comfort or closure.
That’s because Barbara believes there are still unanswered questions about Makayla’s murder, particularly around how her remains were moved to the drainage ditch from where they were ultimately recovered. She actually thinks Frank had accomplices, which is why he pleaded guilty and avoided a jury trial. “(The case’s conclusion is) not a victory, at least not for us,” she told News9. “I feel like he entered a plea to protect people… We have the right to know (who else was involved). Makayla has the right to be laid to rest knowing that everyone who was involved has been brought to justice.”
Therefore, today, Barbara, Scott, and Makayla’s sisters continue to talk about her case in the hopes of finding the answers they are looking for as well as raising awareness about domestic violence. Regarding their personal standing, from what we can tell, Barbara and Scott are currently enjoying retirement in Noble, Oklahoma, while keeping the memory of Makayla alive in their hearts. As for Michael and Sonja, they appear to be residing in Midwest City, where they prefer to keep their personal lives out of the limelight. Makayla’s sisters, Andria and Magan, are both settled in Norman, Oklahoma, where the former is simply taking life day by day, owing to the profound impact of her loss. However, it appears as if caring for her two children does help her deal with the grief. As for Magan, she is likely on a very similar boat, grappling with the past while also caring for her husband, Tommy Degraffenried, and their three children.
Read More: Makayla Meave Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
