Person of Interest in Deaths, dismemberment of four Oklahoma men arrested in Florida on various charges

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (KFOR) — The Okmulgee Police Department says the person interested in the murder of four missing Oklahoma men whose bodies were found dismembered over the weekend has been arrested in Florida.

A week ago, family members reported missing 32-year-old Mark Chastain, 30-year-old Billy Chastain, 32-year-old Mike Sparks and 29-year-old Alex Stevens.

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 said they searched a junkyard where one of the men’s phones was traced but found nothing. However, Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice says evidence of a “violent incident” was found at a nearby property.

Junkyard owner Joe Kennedy is considered a person of interest in the case, but has not been officially named a suspect.

Prentice says Kennedy has denied knowing the men in previous interviews.

However, when investigators sought him out again, he was nowhere to be found — until Tuesday.

According to Prentice, Kennedy was arrested in Daytona Beach Shores, Fla., for a theft car after he was caught in a vehicle that was reported stolen Monday.

Kennedy is currently being held without bond in the Volusia County Jail.

In addition, an arrest warrant was issued for him by the Okmulgee County District Court in connection with a 2012 shooting. The bail on this warrant is $500,000.

“The district attorney and sheriff will begin moving Kennedy back to Okmulgee County,” Prentice said. “The murder investigation is ongoing and investigators are continuing to follow up leads every day.”

Police say they are also still searching for the missing bikes that the victims were reportedly riding before they disappeared.

“I’ve handled over 80 murders in my career. I’ve handled multi-victim homicides. I have worked dismemberments. But this case affects most of the victims and is a very violent event,” Prentice said. “So I can’t say I’ve never worked anything like this, but it’s up there.”

Anyone with information about the murders is asked to call 918-756-3511.