Tulsa Homicide Detectives Recover A Body In Muskogee County

Tulsa Police have been looking for the body of Courtney Palmer following his disappearance last month. Detectives believe Palmer was killed and his body dumped in Muskogee County.

Late Thursday night, Tulsa homicide detectives found a body at a home just west of Muskogee. The body hasn’t been identified, but detectives who found it believe it’s been there as long as Palmer has been missing.

Police believe Palmer's body was dumped in Muskogee County after being beaten to death last month at a home in Tulsa. At first, investigators believed his body was fed to hogs.

Officers said they were trying to question Palmer about a shooting he witnessed at an apartment complex when he went missing.

Tulsa police arrested four people – Gerald Lowe, Michaela Riddle, Jeanetta Thomas, and Charletha Mack – in connection to Palmer’s disappearance.

12/14/2016 Related Story: TPD Makes Fourth Arrest In Murder Of Man Believed Fed To Hogs

Detectives said tips led them to the home off Highway 62 where they executed a search warrant.

Detective Jason White with TPD said, "The small details, to a lot of people it may seem insignificant, but very insignificant things to individuals that called in reference to this case moved the ball forward and we were able to get to where we are today."

Police said the home is connected to one of the people arrested.

Homicide detectives spent much of the day searching near sheds where they discovered the body Thursday night.

With help from the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, they secured the home and resumed the crime scene investigation.

Homicide detectives were joined by forensic anthropologists with Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office to process the scene.

Officers said they recovered a shovel from the scene.

Even though the remains haven't been identified, detectives believe this find could provide closure.

"Right now, I'm just super happy that we were able to find this deceased individual. You know, of course, if it is Courtney we would prefer to find him alive. If it is Courtney, then, of course, we want to do that for the family, to be able to give them their loved one. That's what they want, so that's where we’re at," White said.

It will be up to the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the identity of the body.