Medical Examiner Identifies Remains in Pine Creek Lake

Skeletal remains recovered from a vehicle in McCurtain County have been identified as two men reported missing in 2022.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Emergency Response

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a still lake at dusk ringed by dark pine ridges, with a single pier post in the foreground under a gray cloud band. — The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified skeletal remains recovered from a vehicle in Pine Creek Lake as Terry Woodman and Timothy Woodman, two men reported missing in 2022. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified skeletal remains found in a vehicle recovered from Pine Creek Lake as Terry Woodman and Timothy Woodman. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced the identification after the remains were located October 15 in McCurtain County.

Why it matters

The identification resolves a missing persons case that remained open for about four years after both men were reported missing to the Wright City Police Department. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is now working to determine the cause and manner of death for Oklahoma residents' cases like this one.

Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner positively identified the remains as 64-year-old Terry Woodman and 65-year-old Timothy Woodman, both reported missing in September 2022. The cause and manner of death remain under investigation, and no further circumstances have been released.

The players

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation

The state agency that assists local law enforcement with major criminal investigations across Oklahoma and announced the identification.

Oklahoma Office of the Chief Medical Examiner

The state office responsible for determining the identity, cause, and manner of death in cases such as this one.

The details

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol recovered a vehicle from Pine Creek Lake on October 15, and human remains were found inside. The McCurtain County Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for evaluation.

September 2022: Terry and Timothy Woodman reported missing to the Wright City Police Department.
October 15, 2026: Oklahoma Highway Patrol recovers vehicle and skeletal remains from Pine Creek Lake.
November 5, 2026: Medical examiner identifies the remains as the two missing men.

Seasonal Patterns

The identification comes after roughly four years of an unresolved missing persons case, a timeline that reflects how long forensic identification of recovered remains can take in Oklahoma. The case stands apart from seasonal weather patterns, though the Pine Creek Lake recovery occurred in mid-October.

Residents with information about missing persons cases can contact the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at tips@osbi.ok.gov. Anyone who knows about the circumstances surrounding Terry or Timothy Woodman's disappearance is encouraged to come forward.

The takeaway

Long-unresolved missing persons cases can be closed through forensic identification, even years after a vehicle is recovered. Oklahoma families of missing persons can request updates on their cases through their local law enforcement agencies.