SD 38 candidate Barry Christian found dead after disappearance

Support JournalismOne day after being reported missing, Oklahoma Senate District 38 candidate Barry Christian was found dead in his pickup truck Thursday. He was 54. According to a press release from his family, Christian was found dead inside his Dodge Ram pickup in the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area south of Erick, a town of roughly 1,000 residents located roughly 20 minutes from Sayre, Oklahoma, Christian’s town of residence. Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation crime scene technicians were on site Thursday afternoon, OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee said, but a cause of death has yet to be determined. Christian was officially reported missing Wednesday, according to a press release distributed by campaign spokeswoman Vivienne Hasenbeck. “At this time, the circumstances surrounding Mr. Christian’s death remain under investigation,” the release stated. “Authorities have not yet released additional details pending notification of all family members and further examination.” Christian’s daughter, Brooklyn, asked Oklahomans to pray for his relatives and friends. “Our world is upside down right now. We are still not sure of everything that happened, so please act with grace and treat my dad’s legacy with dignity,” Brooklyn Christian said. “We are extremely grateful to everyone who assisted in the search efforts, and all of the media outlets that shared his information. I know there will be lots of people devastated by his passing.” Barry Christian launched his bid for the Oklahoma Senate last year as a Republican, and he released a campaign video describing his priorities and featuring an endorsement from Kid Rock, with whom he had a friendship. Prior to running for office, Christian worked for 35 years in the petroleum industry, including as a drilling consultant and drilling superintendent. Christian also described himself as a “seasoned entrepreneur” who owned multiple businesses in southwest Oklahoma. Born and raised in Weatherford, where he graduated from high school in 1990, Christian is survived by three children and three grandchildren. Trio filed for SD 38 open seat Christian was one of three people who filed for Senate District 38 earlier this month. Incumbent Sen. Brent Howard (R-Altus) chose not to seek a third and final term in office. On April 22, Howard endorsed candidate Rick Vernon, an attorney and rancher in western Oklahoma. The third candidate to file for the race was Joe Buchanan, a long-time rancher and retired fire chief who has been endorsed by the Lawton Firefighters Association. The three men’s platforms largely aligned on major issues like border policy, public education and support for small businesses. Despite his death, Christian’s name will still appear on ballots for the election set for Tuesday, June 16. Blake Douglas Blake Douglas serves as NonDoc's production editor, a position he took in August 2025 after leading the Edmond Civic Reporting Project over the prior year. Blake graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2022 and completed an internship with NonDoc in 2019. A Tulsa native, Blake previously reported in Tulsa; Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; and Charlotte, North Carolina. Support Journalism

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