Grisly discovery: Bodies of four missing men dismembered, dumped in river
OKMULGEE, OKLA. - The four friends who went missing after they were last seen on bicycles Oct. 9, were each dismembered and their bodies were dumped in the Deep Fork River, a police chief investigating the violent murders said Monday.
Police on Tuesday reported suspect Joe Kennedy was arrested in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida driving a vehicle stolen from Okmulgee on Monday, Oct. 17.
About 4 p.m. Monday, police reported Kennedy's blue, PT Cruiser was found parked behind a business in Morris, Okla. about five miles east of Okmulgee.
Kennedy has a prior conviction in connection with a 2012 shooting in Okmulgee County, police reported.
Police said the four men were planning a burglary at the time they went missing, according to a witness who talked to police.
Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice said the bodies were recovered near the Sharp Road bridge have been identified. The men had been shot.
"I believe this morning we recovered the last piece. We recovered the majority of the remains Friday night," Prentice said.
Mark Chastain, 32, Billy Chastain, 30, Mike Sparks, 32, and Alex Stevens, 29, all of Okmulgee, were reported missing by family members after the men went on bicycle rides Sunday and did not return.
"I don't have any evidence of anyone else involved," Prentice said about Kennedy.
He said he talked to family members who had already realized the bodies were of their loved ones. They were distraught to learn their loved ones had been dismembered.
The police department will continue to investigate the deaths.
"We'd like to talk to Mr. Kennedy again," Prentice said.
Prentice said it is the most grisly case he has worked. The body parts were in various stages of decomposition from being in the river water.
"I've worked over 80 homicides. I have investigated dismemberments but this involves the highest number of victims and it is a very violent event. I can say I've never worked anything like it, but it is right at the top."
Anyone with information is asked to call Okmulgee police at 918-756-3511 or email tips@okmcity.net
A fund was set up by Aerica Castin Monday on gofundme.com for the wife of Mike Sparks.
The fund information can be found at https://gofund.me/387d791f.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Four missing Okmulgee men found dismembered; suspect arrested
