VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (KFOR) – The Okmulgee Police Department says the individual of interest in the murder deaths of four missing Oklahoma men whose bodies were found dismembered over the weekend has been arrested in Florida.
One week ago, relations reported 32-year-old Mark Chastain, 30-year-old Billy Chastain, 32-year-old Mike Sparks, and 29-year-old Alex Stevens lacking.
On Monday afternoon, Okmulgee authorities introduced that the remains found in a river southwest of Okmulgee on Friday have been positively recognized because the lacking men.
Investigators say they searched a salvage yard the place one of the men’s telephones was tracked however didn’t discover something. However, Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice says proof of a ‘violent event’ was discovered at a close-by property.
The proprietor of the salvage yard, Joe Kennedy, is taken into account an individual of interest in the case however has not been formally named as a suspect.
Prentice says throughout earlier interviews, Kennedy has denied understanding the men.
However, when investigators went to speak to him once more, he was nowhere to be discovered – till Tuesday.
According to Prentice, Kennedy was arrested in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida, on a grand theft auto charge after being caught in a automobile that was reported stolen on Monday.
Kennedy is at present being held with out bond in Volusia County Jail.
Additionally, a warrant has been issued by the Okmulgee County District Court for his arrest in relation to a taking pictures in 2012. The bond for that warrant is $500,000.
“The District Attorney and the Sheriff will begin the process of getting Kennedy back to Okmulgee County,” mentioned Prentice. “The murder investigation is ongoing and investigators continue to follow leads every day.”
Police say they’re additionally nonetheless looking for the lacking bicycles the victims have been reportedly using earlier than their disappearance.
“I’ve worked over 80 murders in my career. I have worked murders involving multiple victims. I have worked dismemberments. But this case involves the highest number of victims and it’s a very violent event,” mentioned Prentice. “So I can’t say that I’ve never worked anything like it, but it’s right up there at the top.”
Anyone with any information concerning the murders is requested to name 918-756-3511.
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