Detectives Release Drawing Of Murdered Oklahoma Man

Detectives in Thurston County, Washington hope Oklahoma residents can help them identify a man who was murdered and set on fire 16 years ago. They released an artist's rendering of the man's face done from postmortem photographs.

He is believed to be from Oklahoma and reportedly told several people about his ties to the state.

Authorities believe the young man died of blunt force trauma on or before March 6, 1998, in Tumwater, Washington, according to a release from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. An accelerant was used to prevent identification, but OSBI forensic artist Harvey Pratt was recently asked to provide a sketch of the victim's likeness.

The young man is believed to have been in his late teens or early 20s, between 5'8" and 5'10" tall and about 165 pounds. He had short light brown or red hair, the release states.

He was wearing two dark blue sweatshirts over a white "Sherwin Williams" T-shirt, white Dickie painter pants and new, camel-colored work books. His remains showed evidence of dental work, good dental hygiene and good grooming, according to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

If you think this man looks like someone you know and have not seen since March of 1998, contact Detective Ron Knapp with the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, 360-786-5278 or the OSBI hotline at 1-800-522-8017.