OKLAHOMA CITY, OK:  Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater and the Oklahoma City Police Department are asking for the public's help in the case of a missing Oklahoma City man they fear is a murder victim.  Thirty-four year old Manuel Salado was last seen October 8, 2007.  Police believe that an unwitting witness could hold the key to solving the case and they are asking that this person contact the police department or the District Attorney's Office.

The man police want to contact had a conversation with Exondia Salado at a rural residence in far eastern Oklahoma County, perhaps the Spencer area, during the weekend of October 13th and 14th.  Exondia Salado is the wife of the missing man, and based on the evidence in the case, police and prosecutors believe she is inolved in his disappearance and murder.  They believe Exonda Salado was actually in the process of disposing of her husband's body when an unidentified man approached her and began talking to her.  The two of them reportedly talked about outdoor grilling or cooking, and this man mentioned that he goes to church in Chickasha.  In addition, the two of them may have watched part of a movie during the encounter.

"We do not think this man we are seeking is in any way involved in a crime, but we need him to come forward to help us locate the area where this conversation took place," said Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater.  "We hope the precise details of this conversation this man had with Exondia Salado, such as the fact that he goes to church in Chickasha, will spark his memory and that he will contact us to help us find the place where he saw her that day.  We will then have a better idea of where to focus our search for Mr. Salado's body."

Exondia Salado is believed to have been driving a maroon 2000 Dodge Caravan during that weekend and may have been wearing military camouflage pants.  The van has damage to the passenger side door and the drivers' side front fender is black primer (see below).

Anyone with information on who the man might be that happened upon Exondia Salado that day, or with any other information about the disappearance of Manuel Saldo, is asked to call the Oklahoma City Police Department at 297-1126, Crimestoppers 235-7300 or the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office at 713-1631.

To view the press release in its entirety, click here. (pdf)