The body of a missing American politician has been discovered inside a truck in rural Oklahoma.
Barry Christian, a 54-year-old Republican Senate candidate for District 38 in western Oklahoma, was found dead on Thursday, April 30, after he was reported missing two days earlier, according to a statement from his campaign obtained by KOCO.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed that Christian’s 2024 charcoal gray Ram truck was located just off Highway 30, south of Erick, with a body inside.
The vehicle was discovered in a ravine near the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area. Authorities said the difficult terrain has delayed the recovery of the body and formal identification.
A campaign sign bearing Christian’s name was also found discarded nearby as officials searched the area.
Details surrounding the incident remain unclear, as the OSBI has yet to provide further information.
Christian was declared missing on Tuesday after failing to attend a scheduled meeting. The Harmon County Sheriff’s Office said he was last seen driving his truck.
His last social media post was on Saturday, where he invited residents in his district to attend a meet-and-greet at the Mangum Oklahoma Rattlesnake Festival to discuss issues affecting the community.
On his campaign platform, Christian described himself as a conservative candidate, pledging support for former President Donald Trump and traditional American values.
In a reaction, Christian’s daughter, Brooklyn, called for prayers and urged the public to respect her father’s legacy, stating that the family is devastated and still trying to understand the circumstances surrounding his death.
She also expressed appreciation to those who participated in the search efforts and media organisations that helped share information about the case, noting that many people would be deeply affected by his passing.