Tulsa Police Investigate Murder After Finding Decomposed Body

Tulsa police are investigating what they believe is the city's 17th homicide of 2013.  

Police said the landlord of a home in the 4500 block of West Fifth Street reported a 54-year-old man missing on March 6. He said the man had not been seen for several days and the rent was due.

The landlord on Thursday went inside the home, found blood and called police.

Police said detectives searched the home and found the badly decomposed body of a man whom they believe is Robert Sampson. Due to the condition in which the body was found, it's impossible to determine the cause of death, officials said.

Investigators have been trying to locate anyone who may have last seen Sampson. They also said Sampson's midnight-blue 1998 Ford Explorer with Oklahoma tag 972-DYN is missing. 

Robert Sampson is an ex-con, prison records show.

"There is strong evidence that the body found in the residence... is Mr. Sampson," Sgt. Dave Walker said in a news release.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS or text 918TIP to "Crimes."