An Oklahoma rapist was released early on good behavior despite new charges that while in prison he used an illegal phone to solicit a minor. He then killed his wife, 3 teen kids, and 2 teen friends.

• Oklahoma police found the bodies of a convicted rapist, his wife, and five teenagers on Monday.
• Joey McFadden, 39, had served 17 years in prison for the rape of a minor.

A convicted rapist in Oklahoma was released early on good behavior in 2020 despite the fact that he was facing new charges for soliciting nude photos from a minor while in prison.

Three years later, on Monday, he went on to kill himself and six other people.

The murders are drawing new attention to the circumstances of 39-year-old Joey McFadden's early release, and the fact that he wasn't detained on the further child solicitation charges as he awaited trial.

Police found McFadden's body on his property on Monday alongside the body of his wife and three teenage children, as well as two teenage girls who had gone missing the day before. Police said they believe McFadden shot the family and friends and then shot himself.

Monday was the day that McFadden's child solicitation trial was scheduled to start, according to court records.

McFadden had been previously convicted of first-degree rape of a minor in 2003 and was released early in 2020 on good behavior, court records show. Prosecutors said that while serving that sentence, McFadden used a cellphone to solicit nude photos from a 16-year-old girl, landing him additional felony charges for child porn and child solicitation.

Despite the prior conviction and the seriousness of the new charges, McFadden paid a $25,000 bail fine to be released until his trial. Brett Chapman, a defense attorney and former Tulsa prosecutor, told The Associated Press the bail was too low for the charges that McFadden faced.

Rex Earl Starr, McFadden's defense attorney, said McFadden's previous attorney and the COVID-19 pandemic led to long delays in his prosecution. Starr said he spoke to McFadden the day before he and six other people were found dead on his property and didn't think anything seemed wrong.

"There was no indication whatsoever we wouldn't be ready to select a jury at noon," Starr said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.