Remains believed to be of missing Oklahoma man

Search party recovers '75 percent' of skeleton near Eagletown

Skeletal remains found Monday in southeastern Oklahoma are suspected of being a man missing since June 2015, McCurtain County, Okla., Sheriff Kevin Clardy said.

The remains were found about 9 a.m. near Eagletown, Okla., and have been tentatively identified as Charlie Osterdock of Eagletown. 

"We're confident these remains found will be the person we've been searching for. We will make a positive identification through dental records or DNA. It may take some time," Clardy said.

Officials decided to intensify the search after a dog retrieved a human skull and another bone near a wooded area in Eagletown Jan. 28.

Law enforcement authorities, volunteers and family assisted in the weekend search.

"It's been a long process. We geared up to set up a mobile command and the search started Saturday with about 100 people and Sunday we had about 75 people helping to search. We continued the search to Monday and found about 75 percent of a skeleton and some clothing," Clardy said.

"We're now in limbo until the medical examiner reviews the skeletal remain and makes a positive identity," Clardy said.

The missing man had attended a "small gathering" in June 2015 and "just walked off." "There has been a lot of speculation. He walked off and just went missing," he said.

"As I told the family we will investigate this as a homicide, but nothing we've found leads us to suspect a homicide."

The search included dog teams, tribal officers, local fire departments, and local local law enforcement teams, he said.

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