OKMULGEE, Okla. — The Okmulgee Police Department found "multiple human remains" in their search for four missing men on Friday.
Okmulgee police say Mark Chastain, Billy Chastain and Mike Sparks were reported missing by Mark Chastain's wife overnight Monday. A few hours later, Alex Stevens's mother reported him missing.
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Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice held a news conference on Friday to reveal teams found the remains in a waterway after a passerby called the same morning. Prentice said he wasn't aware of this location being included in the previous searches.
The recovery process of the remains is still underway as of Friday afternoon. He said he could not say for sure if the bodies are the men they were looking for, but they notified the families just in case.
All four men are considered to be close friends and were believed to have left Billy Chastain's home on bicycles on the west side of Okmulgee on Sunday around 8 p.m. Police say someone reported seeing Stevens on Sunday around 4 p.m. by himself at the Smoke Ship on the south side of town and sightings were reported of the Chastains Monday morning near the YMCA, but investigators are working to confirm those sightings.
Police say calls to their phones go straight to voicemail. Mark Chastain's phone was tracked to an area south of Okmulgee but the phone was either turned off or lost power and officers didn't find any signs of the men.
Prentice says there aren't any initial signs of violence or foul play, but they're bringing in part of the District 25 Violent Crime Task Force to help in the search.
Mark’s wife, Jessica Chastain, told 2 News he parked his beloved, red car at a house owned by the Chastain family on Sunday. It's where the four men would often hang out.
Okmulgee investigators were searching for the men in a junkyard off Highway 75, north of Schulter, on Wednesday. It’s where police say Mark’s cell phone pinged last.
“They don’t go far - never," Chastain said.
Chrystal Parker, Mike's fiance, has the same sentiments.
“I’ve called him 197 times. I’ve texted his phone, you name it," Parker said.
Investigators say there’s no current reason to believe violence or foul play is a factor but if any of their phones turn back on, police say they’ll be alerted.
“If they’re alive, someone’s holding them hostage or something," Chastain said. "But I don’t see four grown men being held hostage by one person.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Okmulgee Police Department by phone, Facebook or by email at policereport@okmcity.net.
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