(Editor’s note: The following article references suicide, the most serious symptom of treatable mental health conditions. Those experiencing suicidal ideation or seeking professional mental health assistance can contact the National Suicide Hotline by calling or texting 988 or by chatting online.)
More than three months after Barry Christian was found dead in his pickup truck, the Oklahoma medical examiner’s office released a preliminary report designating the Senate District 38 candidate’s death a suicide. Some family members and friends, however, are disputing that conclusion, alleging in social media posts that they were told by investigators the scene had been staged to look like suicide.
Christian, 54, was officially reported missing April 29, about four weeks after he filed to run for the southwest Oklahoma Senate seat. The following day, a hunter alerted the Beckham County Sheriff’s Office to a pickup truck near a creek below a ridge in the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, about 20 minutes from Sayre. Christian, who lived in Sayre, was found dead inside his Dodge Ram.
According to the one-page report released Tuesday from Dr. Michael Harrell, a pathologist with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Christian’s “probable cause of death” was a gunshot wound to the head. In the report’s box designating “manner of death,” Harrell checked “suicide” instead of “homicide,” a decision that drew quick rebuke from family members online. The agency said its full report on Christian’s autopsy is set to be released “around” Aug. 19.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation director Greg Mashburn said after Wednesday’s OSBI Commission meeting that the investigation is ongoing and that the agency’s full findings will be presented to Beckham County District Attorney Angela Marsee for review.
“One of the last kind of things we were looking at, we were waiting on, was the medical examiner’s report,” Mashburn said. “Obviously that’s a very important piece of evidence that would be part of the end story.”
Mashburn said once investigators have “everything put together,” they will meet with Christian’s family before presenting the findings to Marsee, who also serves on the OSBI Commission.
“We will sit down and visit with the family. There will be some questions we will be able to answer for them, there will be some questions we will never be able to answer for them,” Mashburn said. “That’s just kind of how it is.”
At least two of Christian’s immediate family members aired frustrations on social media Tuesday evening, alleging they were told by investigators that they believed the scene had been staged to look like suicide. Christian’s former wife, Farrah Christian, wrote in a Facebook post that “OSBI has botched this investigation,” that she and Christian’s kids deserve better and that it is “time to call Dateline.”
“I am very emotional writing this, but I’m done being quiet. I’m extremely angry,” Farrah Christian wrote. “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. So why would he shoot up his truck with his left hand? The OSBI even TOLD US they know it was staged. Let’s face it. Oklahoma politics and law enforcement are as crooked as a $3 bill. Money talks. They’ve obviously been paid off.”
Christian’s daughter, Neleh, insisted in a Facebook post that her father did not die by suicide, stating she wants answers as to how that conclusion was reached by the medical examiner’s office
“There are serious inconsistencies surrounding my father’s death that deserve further scrutiny,” Neleh Christian wrote. “We have been told there were multiple bullet holes involving the exterior of his truck, with the suggested explanation that Barry may have fired those shots before turning the gun on himself. If that is the state’s conclusion, then I want to see the forensic evidence supporting it.”
A man named Dwight Burch wrote in a Facebook post that Christian was his best friend for 18 years. He also alleged that the OSBI informed family and friends they believed the scene had been staged.
“If that’s true, then the public deserves to know why, what evidence supports that conclusion, and whether every possible lead was properly investigated,” Burch wrote. “This isn’t about politics. It’s about getting the truth.”
Mashburn, who said he could not discuss whether the agency had identified any suspects related to Christian’s death, said OSBI investigators reviewed all leads that arose.
“We ran every possible scenario that came up,” Mashburn said. “My heart goes out to [the family], and we’re going to do our best to try to answer any questions they may have once our investigation is complete.”
Marsee, whose office will be responsible for reviewing the OSBI’s findings about Christian’s death, confirmed that the process remains ongoing.
“I have not received the prosecutorial report,” Marsee said. “I will review the prosecutorial report as soon as it is received, and I will make a filing decision — if there is one to file — (…) I will make the appropriate decision based on the evidence that we have.”
Like Mashburn, Marsee said she had seen the family’s recent Facebook activity.
“I think these are really difficult and complicated issues,” Marsee said. “I feel very compassionate toward the family about what they’re going through.”
Three filed for open SD 38 seat
Christian launched his bid for SD 38 as a Republican and he released a campaign video describing his priorities. Prior to running for office, he worked for 35 years in the petroleum industry. Christian owned multiple businesses in southwest Oklahoma.
According to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, one of those ventures included a 50 percent stake in a medical marijuana dispensary called LC Holdings (DBA: Canopy Releaf) from 2020 to 2021. Christian ultimately exited his dispensary partnership with Jamie Lakey, a former Sayre City Council member who also owned a liquor store in Sayre.
Christian was one of three people who filed for Senate District 38 after incumbent Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus) chose not to seek a third and final term in office. Despite his death, Christian’s name remained on the June primary ballot alongside GOP candidates Rick Vernon, an attorney and rancher, and Joe Buchanan, a long-time rancher and retired fire chief. On June 16, Vernon won election to the seat outright.
