A man whose body was found inside a burning pickup Friday in Atwood has reportedly been identified as a former Shawnee resident who has relatives in this area. An Atwood man has been arrested and jailed on a murder complaint as part of the homicide investigation.
Firefighters responding to a vehicle fire near Atwood found the body about 6 a.m. Friday. The victim, believed to be the owner of the truck, hadn’t been heard from since earlier Friday. Officials awaited autopsy reports to confirm the victim’s identity.
According to obituary information and family members in Shawnee, the body has been identified as Damien Wade Wilkerson, 26. He attended Pleasant Grove School and part of his middle school years in Shawnee before moving to the Holdenville area.
His sister, Fallon McClain of Shawnee, said her brother was loyal and loving. She said he was looking forward to being a father — his wife Ashlee is expecting their first child in April.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is probing this case and agents made an arrest Monday. Stephen Ritter, 26, was booked into the Hughes County jail Monday on a first-degree murder complaint, the OSBI reported. He is scheduled for a court appearance today.
McClain said her brother and Ritter were childhood friends.
Tribal rites are scheduled tonight in Tecumseh and graveside services for Wilkerson will be Saturday in Atwood. For more information, see Wilkerson’s complete obituary on Page 4A.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Kim Morava may be reached at 214-3962.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
