Body found in Oklahoma cellar could be tied to revenge killing

ENID, Okla. ( KFOR ) – The Enid Police Department says human remains found inside of a cellar on Tuesday may be a retaliation killing for a woman’s disappearance two years ago.

Police found the remains Tuesday in an Enid neighborhood after getting a warrant to search the cellar. Brian Travis spoke with NewsNation affiliate KFOR employees Wednesday and said he observed multiple law enforcement vehicles on the scene Tuesday evening.

“They had about four cop cars out front here with the crime scene unit van,” said Travis. “There was nobody living here.”

Investigators believe the remains found in the cellar are Colby Sheppard, 27, who was reported missing back in January. A Facebook post the same month from police said Sheppard was last seen by his family December 2023 and had made contact with someone at a Pizza Hut shop in town on East Broadway.

“We take all of those cases very seriously,” said Cass Rains with the Enid Police Department. “All leads are followed up on. Every tip is followed up on.”

Investigators have booked Victor Battelo, Charles Jordan and Devin Harris on first-degree murder complaints in connection to the case. Battelo and Jordan were already in custody on different charges and Harris was arrested Wednesday. Police haven’t shared what was obtained that tied all three of them to the case but confirmed Wednesday they were acquaintances.

Enid police say unshared evidence suggests Sheppard was killed in retaliation for his rumored involvement in Kendra Battelo’s disappearance in 2022.

Battelo was last seen by her family in Enid in July of 2022. Enid Police have followed tips and leads, served search warrants and pinged her cell phone, but haven’t been able to find her in that time.

Battelo is described as a light-skinned female, 5’09” tall, 120 pounds, and having brown hair and brown eyes. She has short hair and is known to often wear wigs of various colors.

Victor Battelo is Kendra’s uncle, and police say they have not found any evidence to support Sheppard’s involvement in her disappearance.

Online court records do spell out some kind of existing relationship between Kendra Battelo and Sheppard. Small claims cases involving them both date back to 2020, and Sheppard petitioned for a protective order against Battelo in 2021 that was ultimately dismissed.

News 4 has requested a copy of that petition from the Garfield County Court Clerk’s office, but had not heard back Wednesday.

“It’s wild,” said Travis, emphasizing his sympathies for Sheppard and Battelo’s families.

Police believe additional people may be involved in the case and the investigation is ongoing, but aren’t sharing additional details at this time.

Police also confirm the search for Kendra Battelo is ongoing.

“It’s very frustrating,” said Travis. “There’s got to be justice. We just want to know what’s going on.”

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