SEQUOYAH COUNTY (KFSM) — Three men were arrest Tuesday (July 12) on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection to the disappearance of a hiker in Sequoyah County.
Blake Shamblin, 25, Michael Snelling, 22, and Tyler Leverett, 22, were arrested in connection to a homicide investigation involving Matthew Fagan, who was reported missing June 21 near Cato Creek at Lake Tenkiller, according to Sheriff Ron Lockhart.
The sheriff’s office arrested Leverett on July 5 originally on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder after the fact, but his charge has since been upgraded to first-degree murder, Lockhart said.
Investigators began questioning the suspects because they felt there was something suspicious about Fagan’s disappearance. Fagan went missing while hiking with four friends, the sheriff said.
Lockhart said the friends’ stories did not match up, which led them to believe something bad happened to Fagan.
When they went hiking, the friends originally told deputies Fagan complained of his ankle hurting and said he was returning to the vehicle. Fagan has not been seen since.
Fagan’s body has not yet been found, but Lockhart said investigators are continuing to search Lake Tenkiller.
