OSBI Investigates Payne County Murder; Victim Identity Confirmed

Police have confirmed the identity of the victim in the Payne County homicide Thursday afternoon.

According to police, Samuel Crawford, 21, went missing at the end of August.

A helicopter was used to search a heavily wooded property in Payne County last Thursday. OSBI officials said parts of Crawford's white truck and evidence of a chop shop were found in the area.

“When they noticed parts of his vehicle, they executed a search warrant and when they were searching that area they found a deceased male,” said Hunter McKee, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

Investigators connected 21-year-old Christopher Somers to the rural property and said he was operating a chop shop. Somers was arrested the day after the search on multiple complaints including first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Somers has not been charged by the Payne County District Attorney.

“We are looking into not only the motive but the relationship between Somers and the victim,” said McKee.

Crawford was last seen with his truck on August 29th at a gas station in Payne County. The gas station is located about 12 miles from the area where the body and truck parts were found.

McKee said the missing person investigation is ongoing but separate from the murder investigation, at this point.