Police Confirm Identity Of Victim In Payne County Homicide

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation have confirmed the victim in the Payne County homicide.

OSBI and Payne County Sheriff's Office investigators returned to a property Wednesday, about 15 miles from Stillwater where the Samuel Crawford was found buried.

Investigators said they returned to the rural home in Glencoe in search of additional evidence, days after Samuel Crawford was reported missing, and parts of his white pickup were found scattered across the property.

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

Near a tractor on the property, investigators said the body believed to be that of Crawford was found buried in a hole.

Investigators found a partially filled dirt hole.

Inside, a decomposed body with two gunshot wounds to the head.

The medical examiner did an autopsy and positively identified the victim as Crawford.

According to those investigators, Crawford had been shot multiple times.

Christopher Somers, who lives near the home was arrested on a murder complaint, and for operating a chop shop on the same property where dozens of vehicles were found.

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

According to a new court filing Crawford was working at a welding shop in Morrison, when he began having problems with his truck.

A search warrant said Crawford asked his boss to put him in touch with Somers.

Investigators interviewed a man who says Christoper Somers had a plan to kill a guy and take his vehicle - but it "didn't go as planned." - the man told investigators he believed Somers killed Sam Crawford for his truck.

Somers, ranch-hand seen working in videos posted to his TikTok, moonlights as a mechanic and agreed to repair Crawford’s "very distinctive" vehicle.

The filing says Crawford’s employer questioned Somers after growing concerned when Crawford failed to return to work or answer his phone calls.

According to investigators “Somers is the last person to see Crawford before his disappearance,” but when questioned has “changed his story” and given “conflicting information.”

No motive was outlined in Wednesday’s search warrant. Formal charges have yet to be filed.