Man's Death At Backwoods Music Festival Leads To Homicide Investigation

A popular music festival near Stroud turns deadly, and now Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents are investigating.

The incident is being investigated as a homicide, and the family believes the way the festival is run needs to be investigated as well.

"I just miss him,” Terrence Murphy said.

Patrick Murphy, 34, had already experienced loss when his young son passed away, but now Patrick's father is going through the same thing.

The two went to a concert near Stroud. The Backwoods Camping and Music Festival  is a popular three-day event hosting 10,000 people a day. It was held over Labor Day weekend, but Terrence and Patrick Murphy got separated.

"I went to look for him and couldn't find him,” Terrence Murphy said.

Terrence Murphy called the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office and found out Patrick had been found dead.

Lincoln County authorities said there was an altercation between Patrick and security, and drugs may have been involved.

"There are probably drugs in his system, but I guarantee you 99 percent of the people there are drugs in their system,” he said. “The thing is sold as a place where you can stay out in the country so you can take drugs without having to worry about police. That's the whole premise of it."

It's a premise Terrence Murphy said needs more attention.

"So if you are an event security for that you should be aware that there are people like that and how to take care of them,” he said. "I want these places to be regulated to protect the people."

Investigators are waiting on an official cause of death from the state medical examiner. News 9 called Event Security of Norman which is the security firm involved in this, but they hung up.