The body of a Republican Oklahoma state Senate candidate was found inside a truck parked in a rural area days after he was reported missing.
Barry Christian, 54, mysteriously disappeared Tuesday and was found dead two days later, his campaign said in a statement obtained by KOCO.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation told the outlet that Christian’s gray Ram truck was discovered near Highway 30 with a body inside, Fox News reported.
Because of the truck’s location by a ravine near the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, the recovery of the vehicle and body was reportedly delayed. This stalled the identification of the remains.
Officials are still working to determine Christian’s cause of death.
Christian was reported missing on Tuesday after he did not attend a scheduled meeting. He was last seen driving the same truck found by officials, according to the Harmon County Sheriff’s Office.
The Beckham County Sheriff’s Office told KOCO 5 that a deputy was patrolling the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Refuge Thursday morning when they contacted a hunter who had seen a vehicle crashed off a high ridge overlooking Fish Creek.
Christian’s campaign site described the candidate as the “conservative choice” for Senate, vowing to “proudly stand with President Trump” and “fight for the traditional conservative values that make America great” if elected into office.
Earlier this month, Christian took to social media several times to discuss his campaign.
“The challenges we face in Oklahoma aren’t Republican or Democrat — they’re challenges of education, workforce, public safety, agriculture, and the ability for families to build a future here at home. These are everyday issues that require real solutions and real commitment. I’m running because I believe in the values that built towns like ours — faith, respect, honesty, and responsibility,” he said in a Facebook post.
Christian’s daughter, Brooklyn, said she was devastated at the news of her father’s death.
“Please pray for our family and friends. Our world is upside down right now. We are still not sure of everything that happened, so please act with grace and treat my dad’s legacy with dignity,” she said.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who assisted in the search efforts, and all of the media outlets that shared his information. I know there will be lots of people devastated by his passing,” she added.
