The family of a deceased Republican candidate in Oklahoma‘s Senate election disputed the medical examiner’s conclusion that he died by suicide, raising questions about the circumstances that led to the relative’s unexpected death over three months ago.
The medical examiner’s office determined Barry Christian, one of three candidates who ran for Oklahoma State Senate District 38 in the June 16 Republican primary, died from a gunshot wound to the head on April 30.
Christian was found dead in his pickup truck that crashed in a ravine near the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area in Beckham County, Oklahoma. Local police found his body after a hunter reportedly crashed the vehicle, which was riddled with bullet holes.
The aspiring state lawmaker was reported missing after he did not show up to a scheduled meeting on April 28.
Though his death was officially ruled a suicide, Christian’s family questioned whether his death was staged to look like one. His ex-wife, daughter, and best friend all claimed that state investigators agreed that it may have been the case. At least one of them directly accused the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation of mishandling the case.
“The OSBI has botched this investigation,” Farrah Christian, the victim’s former wife, posted on Facebook. “Barry was right handed. He ‘allegedly’ shot himself with his left hand. His truck also had several bullet holes on the outside of it. They think he shot his truck before turning the gun on himself.”
“Funny thing is, they did not test his right hand or sleeve for gunshot residue, only the left,” she wrote. “So why would he shoot up his truck with his left hand? The OSBI even TOLD US they know it was staged.”
Neleh Christian, the daughter, and Dwight Burch, the best friend, both disagreed with the medical examiner’s suicide finding in similar statements on social media. According to Neleh, authorities have not ruled out a homicide yet.
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OSBI Director Greg Mashburn said the agency’s investigation is ongoing and that its findings will be presented to Beckham County District Attorney Angela Marsee for review.
Christian campaigned as a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump in the Oklahoma Senate race. Despite his death, the candidate’s name remained on the primary ballot. Christian worked for 35 years in the petroleum industry before running for office.