Phillip Clifton, 54, was last seen by his girlfriend on April 4, 2022, leaving Roland, Oklahoma, in his Dodge pickup. His truck was found burning in Oklahoma City on April 7. On April 22 a homeowner discovered Clifton’s body near the Washita River in Garvin County; the remains were wrapped in plastic, a blanket, and fencing, and an initial examination found gunshot wounds.

Investigators say Clifton had been staying with Homer Shane Trout in Wheatland and believe Trout shot him on April 4. Trout and Randall McClendon were arrested by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Trout was charged with second-degree murder, felon in possession of a firearm, desecration of a human corpse, and conspiracy; McClendon was charged with desecration of a human corpse, accessory to a felony, and conspiracy. A third man, Richard Spencer, was charged with accessory to murder; authorities say Spencer helped move the body but claimed he did not initially know a body was present and then refused further involvement.

Authorities say Trout told them Clifton tried to rob him. They also believe others may have been involved in burning the truck and covering up the killing, and the probe is ongoing. Did anyone in Roland, Wheatland, or the Oklahoma City area see Clifton around April 4 or notice the burned truck a few days later?