The body of an Oklahoma state Senate candidate who was reported missing earlier this week has been found inside his truck in a rural area, authorities confirmed.
Barry Christian, a 54-year-old Republican candidate for District 38 from Sayre, disappeared Tuesday after failing to attend a scheduled meeting. He was last seen driving his gray Dodge Ram pickup truck, according to the Harmon County Sheriff’s Office.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) confirmed that Christian’s vehicle was discovered Thursday near Highway 30, in a ravine by the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, just south of Erick, Oklahoma. A body found inside the truck was later identified as Christian.
Due to the vehicle’s location in the ravine, recovery efforts were delayed, initially slowing identification of the remains.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing. The OSBI did not immediately respond to a request for additional comment.
Christian had been actively campaigning in the days leading up to his disappearance, including an appearance the previous Saturday. He was one of three Republican candidates in the District 38 state Senate race.
His campaign described him as the “conservative choice,” vowing to “proudly stand with President Trump” and “fight for the traditional conservative values that make America great” if elected.
In a statement obtained by KOCO, Christian’s daughter, Brooklyn, expressed grief and asked for privacy as the family processes the loss.
“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,” Brooklyn 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.”
Christian’s opponent in the race, Joe Buchanan, also shared condolences.
“Carol and I are devastated to hear about Barry Christian’s passing. We are keeping his family and friends in our prayers, and hope our community can come together after this horrible tragedy,” Buchanan wrote on Facebook.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Christian’s death.
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