Body Found In Cherokee County Identified

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ Authorities have identified a body found last week in northern Cherokee County as that of a Tulsa man, but don't know yet how he died. <br/><br/>Two hunters found the decomposed

Saturday, October 7th 2006, 5:35 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) _ Authorities have identified a body found last week in northern Cherokee County as that of a Tulsa man, but don't know yet how he died.

Two hunters found the decomposed body of William Hain, 27, on Sept. 30 along a creek east of Peggs and southwest of Teresita. Authorities have estimated Hain's body had been in the heavily wooded area at least two months.

Hain was identified through dental and surgical records after his family members recognized a picture of a pair of boots similar to those found on the body.

Hain's wife hadn't seen her husband since July but didn't file a missing person's report because she thought Hain had left her, Cherokee County Sheriff's Investigator Jason Chennault said.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is treating Hain's death as a homicide. OSBI agent Vicky Lyons said the cause and manner of Hain's death hasn't been determined.