Okmulgee PD: Quadruple homicide person of interest arrested in Florida on grand theft auto charge
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (KFOR) - The Okmulgee Police Department says the person of interest in the quadruple murder of four missing men whose bodies were found dismembered over the weekend has been arrested in Florida.
One week ago, family members reported 32-year-old Mark Chastain, 30-year-old Billy Chastain, 32-year-old Mike Sparks, and 29-year-old Alex Stevens missing.
On Monday afternoon, Okmulgee authorities announced that the remains found in a river southwest of Okmulgee on Friday have been positively identified as the missing men.
Investigators say they searched a salvage yard where one of the men’s phones was tracked, but they didn’t find anything at the salvage yard.
However, Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice says evidence of a ‘violent event’ was found at a nearby property.
The owner of the salvage yard, Joe Kennedy, is considered a person of interest in the case, but has not been officially named as a suspect.
Prentice says during previous interviews, Kennedy has denied knowing the men.
However, when investigators went to talk to him again, he was nowhere to be found - until today.
Prentice says Kennedy was arrested on a grand theft auto charge after being caught in a vehicle reported stolen to the Okmulgee Police Department on Monday, Oct. 17.
He was arrested in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida.
Kennedy is currently being held without bond in Volusia County Jail.
Additionally, an warrant has been issued by the Okmulgee County District Court for his arrest in relation to a shooting in 2012. The bond for that warrant is $500,000.
"The District Attorney and the Sheriff will begin the process of getting Kennedy back to Okmulgee County," said Prentice. "The murder investigation is ongoing and investigators continue to follow leads every day."
Police say they are also still searching for the missing bicycles.
“I’ve worked over 80 murders in my career. I have worked murders involving multiple victims. I have worked dismemberments. But this case involves the highest number of victims and it’s a very violent event,” said Prentice. “So I can’t say that I’ve never worked anything like it, but it’s right up there at the top.”
Anyone with any information about the murders, or Kennedy’s location, is asked to call 918-756-3511.