Search for Suspected Murder Victim Continues

Three Webbers Falls men, facing murder charges, will be on a sounding docket April 13 in Sequoyah County District Court, Sallisaw.

In the meantime law enforcement officers continue to search for the body of the man believed to be the victim, Matthew Scott Fagan.

The suspects in Fagan’s disappearance are Michael Anthony Snelling, 22, Charles Blake Shamblin, 25, and Tyler Paul Leverett, 22, all of Webbers Falls. Snelling and Shamblin were charged in district court with first-degree murder and Leverett faces a second-degree murder charge. All three entered not guilty pleas to the charges.

According to the investigator’s report filed with the charges against Snelling, the suspect said the three participated in beating Fagan, then hiding his body, and later wrapping the body in chicken wire and dumping Fagan’s body in Lake Tenkiller.

Fagan’s death, reports indicate, was the result of an argument over a woman. Fagan has been missing since June 21. The murder charges were filed July 20 after a long and unsuccessful search for Fagan’s body.

Sheriff Larry Lane said Thursday the search for Fagan’s body in Lake Tenkiller continues. He said another search was conducted about two weeks ago by the Sequoyah County District Attorney’s Office, the Oklahoma Lake Patrol, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, with no luck.

The three suspects’ next court appearance is set for April 13 when they appear on the judge’s sounding docket. A sounding docket is when the judge hears from the attorneys in the case how the case is proceeding and what must be done to bring the case to jury trial.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

For more news stories stay tuned to The MIX 105.1 or visit www.kxmx.com