A murder investigation has been opened after four dismembered bodies were found in a river in Okmulgee, police in the small town in Oklahoma, central United States, said on Monday.
Four friends had disappeared on the evening of Sunday, October 9, after having left the home of one of them by bicycle and an important search device had been launched.
“Episode of great violence”
Investigators finally discovered four dismembered bodies in a river in the city on Friday.
An autopsy confirmed they were indeed the missing: Mark and Billy Chastain, 32 and 30, Mike Sparks, 32, and Alex Stevens, 29, local police chief Joe Prentice said Monday.
The medical examiner also identified traces of bullet wounds.
For their part, the investigators found traces
of "an episode of great violence"
in a landfill in the city and are interested in the owner of the neighboring land.
This man, who is not considered a suspect at this stage, disappeared on Friday, the police chief said at a press conference.
According to him, the four victims were fomenting
"a criminal act"
at the time of their disappearance.
"A witness reported being asked to join them in 'doing a pretty juicy shot for everyone,'"
the policeman said without giving details.