48 Hours: Tracker Dakota Black - Inside the Makayla Meave investigation

The Tracker Dakota Black episode of 48 Hours revisits the shocking murder of 30-year-old Makayla Meave about 2,000 feet away from her Oklahoma home. Makayla Meave was last seen on September 15, 2023, and was reported missing on September 16, 2023. Her sudden disappearance deeply confused her family and friends. They were certain that she would not have left on her own because she was a committed and caring family woman.

When she did not come home and no one could reach her, her husband, Frank Byers, filed a missing person report. Frank said that the last time he saw his wife was around 5:30 p.m. in the driveway of their 100-acre property. He reported that she was leaving for a date because she was in an open relationship with someone from Facebook.

A trained tracker and detective, Dakota Black, launched an extensive search. According to CBS News, Dakota said,

"I go out to scenes when there's a manhunt or trying to locate individuals."

However, Makayla's cousin found her remains four days after she was reported missing. Investigators believed that she was shot twice in the head with a .22-caliber gun and then wrapped in carpet before being hidden in the narrow culvert. On October 24, her husband was arrested, and the next day he was charged with her murder.

Continue reading more about Tracker Dakota Black.

Tracker Dakota Black: Makayla Meave investigation explored

September 2023

On September 16, Frank Byers reported to the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office that his wife went missing. Lt. Dakota Black started searching for Frank's wife with a trained dog named Deputy Haven. In Tracker Dakota Black, Dakota revealed,

"I have found them underneath piles of leaves. … In trees and abandoned homes, sheds … I've found them pretty much in any area you can think of."

Dakota investigated Makayla's sister, Andria, who revealed that Makayla spoke with her early in the morning. The next day, Andria received a frantic call from Frank, during which he cried and said Makayla had not come home after going on a date with a bald man.

Andria further revealed that at that time, Frank and Makayla were living separately on the same property while preparing for divorce, and so she initially thought Makayla was simply enjoying her independence. But when the repeated calls went unanswered and Makayla failed to show up at the family restaurant, both Andria and their mother grew increasingly alarmed.

Tracker Dakota Black showed that when investigators began examining Makayla and Frank's relationship more closely, they discovered that their marriage was a serious issue and was marked by alleged bruises and threats. The police considered these details, matched them with the location where her remains were found, and subsequently launched a search warrant for the property. After searching, they found significant evidence.

On September 20, Andria found Makayla's body inside a drainage culvert about 2,000 feet away from her home. According to investigation reports, she had been shot twice in the head, wrapped in a carpet, and left there.

October 24, 2023

Tracker Dakota Black revealed that Frank was arrested and charged with killing his wife. Investigators stated that he murdered his wife because he wanted to start a relationship with another woman. The victim's family told investigators that they had suspected Frank from the time their daughter went missing.

October 25, 2023

A scene from Tracker Dakota Black (Image via YouTube/@48 Hours)

Frank was taken from the Pottawatomie County courthouse and booked into jail early Wednesday morning. Investigators began connecting evidence of the murder to Frank in mid-September.

January 31, 2025

Frank officially accepted a plea agreement and admitted that he killed his wife. He was then sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.