Friends, customers remember slain Guthrie store manager

GUTHRIE, Okla. (AP) -- A man who was found dead at the rental store he managed here was remembered for his kindness and patience.<br><br>Logan County law officers found Charles Mynatt, 39, at the Rent-A-Center

Saturday, April 10th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

GUTHRIE, Okla. (AP) -- A man who was found dead at the rental store he managed here was remembered for his kindness and patience.

Logan County law officers found Charles Mynatt, 39, at the Rent-A-Center store early Sunday when they went to check on Mynatt at the request of the store's alarm company.

Prosecutors on Thursday charged Michael Anthony Rivera with first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Rivera, 23, was taken into custody early Wednesday after authorities found items at his Edmond residence that allegedly link him to the crime, including a lock box with about the same amount of money stolen from the store and a digital camera.

He had only been working at the Guthrie branch for about four days, police said.

Thursday evening, about 200 people gathered with candles around a makeshift shrine of flowers and crosses outside the rental store.

Many recalled how he helped them, whether it was with filling out contracts for televisions and stereos, or with helping them when they fell behind on payments.

Bill Potter said Mynatt, "Chuck" as he called him, made some of his payments on a bill when Potter was hurt on his job and couldn't work.

"I paid him back, but he never worried about that. He just always wanted to help," Potter said.

Michael Mallett said Mynatt's death "just tore me apart."

"I've dealt with Rent-A-Center for six years, and he's the only person I've ever dealt with," said Mallett.

Mynatt's wife, Jennifer, thanked the crowd for their condolences.

"I don't know how I'm ever going to be able to thank all of you," she said. "I didn't realize how many friends loved him."