A man who is accused of murdering his fishing partner claims he was forced to because of the threat of Bigfoot.
Larry Sanders, from Oklahoma, has been charged with first-degree murder after he told police that his friend, Jimmy Knighten, actually wanted him killed.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said the pair had been out noodling on the South Canadian River when some kind of altercation ensued and Sanders strangled and then drowned Mr Knighten to death on 9 July.
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Police said the 53-year-old 'appeared to be under the influence of something' when he confessed to the murder.
Sheriff John Christian said: "His statement was that Mr Knighten had summoned 'Bigfoot' to come and kill him; that's why he had to kill Mr Knighten."
Captain Beth Green of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation explained that Sanders 'believed that Mr Knighten had basically tricked him into being out there'.
Sanders allegedly feared that his friend was going to feed him to the giant creature.
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According to Stacey Kelley, Mr Knighten's ex-wife, following the alleged murder Sanders drove back to Mr Knighten's house in his pick-up truck.
When Mr Knighten's son asked Sanders where his dad was, he allegedly told him that he 'wasn't coming back'.
Speaking about her ex, Ms Kelley said: "He's just a good old country boy. He is a person that would genuinely love you to death.
"I am heartbroken for [Sanders'] family and especially his kids. Not only are they tied to Jimmy, but now they have to live with the fact that their dad is the one that did this."
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In a GoFundMe set up in his name, she added: "Jimmy was a hard working father, brother, son, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend to all who knew him. Anyone who knew Jimmy knew how big of a heart he had. He loved deeply. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it."
Police struggled to find Mr Sanders' body because it had been dumped in the river, however, his remains were eventually recovered on Sunday (10 July).
Captain Green said: "Mr Sanders was able to provide interviewing agents with a map that ultimately led to Mr Knighten’s body."
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An autopsy is set to be carried out on Mr Knighten's body to determine a cause of death.
But despite Sanders' confession, the case is not as clear as it may seem.
Sheriff Christian said that police will still 'have to prove all the elements of the crime, and that what the suspect is telling you is actually what happened'
If they manage to do so, he said Sanders could face the death penalty.
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Topics: US News