Murder Suspect Arrested

A 55-year-old Muskogee man has been arrested on a complaint of first-degree murder stemming from a body found in rural Cherokee County Wednesday morning. Arrested was Robert Lee Smallen. The Cherokee

Wednesday, July 11th 2007, 9:14 pm

By: News On 6

A 55-year-old Muskogee man has been arrested on a complaint of first-degree murder stemming from a body found in rural Cherokee County Wednesday morning. Arrested was Robert Lee Smallen. The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office says a tip led deputies and Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents to Horseshoe Bend, where Lake Tenkiller meets the Illinois River. At that location, in the water, they found the body of 47-year-old Ronnie Hall, also of Muskogee, with multiple gunshot wounds.

Smallen was formally charged Wednesday afternoon. He remains in the Cherokee County jail.

The OSBI says their investigation revealed the victim and suspect knew each other and drove to the lake together. Authorities are still investigating the motive for the murder.