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A missing Republican state senate candidate has been found dead, two days after he was last seen.
Barry Christian, 54, was running for Oklahoma’s 38th District on the GOP ticket after a 35-year career as a drilling consultant to the local oil and gas sector.
His campaign site described him as the “conservative choice” for the western district and carried a pledge from Christian to “proudly stand with President Trump” and “fight for the traditional conservative values that make America great” if elected.
He had secured an endorsement from MAGA favorite Kid Rock, who appeared in an Instagram video last month promoting his candidacy ahead of a June 16 election, in which Christian was one of three running to replace incumbent Brent Howard.
open image in gallery Investigators at the scene in Oklahoma where Christian was found dead inside his truck, with a campaign sign visible nearby ( KOCO 5 News )
He was last seen on Tuesday and his failure to show up for a scheduled meeting Wednesday morning prompted concerns for his wellbeing.
The following afternoon his charcoal gray 2024 Dodge Ram pickup truck was discovered crashed into a small ravine in the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area off Highway 30, near the town of Erick.
Christian’s body was subsequently recovered from the vehicle but no cause of death has yet been released, with crime scene technicians from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations currently examining the truck, according to OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee.
The spot where the vehicle was located, with a discarded campaign sign nearby, is approximately 20 minutes away from Christian’s home in Sayre, local media reports.
open image in gallery Christian’s body was found in a vehicle - no cause of death has been released as yet ( X/Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation )
“At this time, the circumstances surrounding Mr Christian’s death remain under investigation,” campaign spokeswoman Vivienne Hasenbeck said in a statement.
“Authorities have not yet released additional details pending notification of all family members and further examination.”
The deceased’s daughter Brooklyn said in a statement of her own that the family was devastated and asked for privacy.
“Please pray for our family and friends. Our world is upside down right now,” she said. “We are still not sure of everything that happened, so please act with grace and treat my dad’s legacy with dignity.
“We are extremely grateful to everyone who assisted in the search efforts. I know there will be lots of people devastated by his passing.”
Christian’s final campaign appearance was at the Mangum Oklahoma Rattlesnake Festival on Saturday, a meet-and-greet with local residents to discuss “issues that matter most to our community.”