A Saturday afternoon noodling trip to the South Canadian River for two local residents ended with one dead and his companion placed into the Pontotoc County Detention Center, charged with First Degree Murder.

Jimmy Knighten, 52, Allen, and Larry Sanders, 53, Atwood, had left the Knighten residence about 4:00 p.m. on July 9, 2022 in the white Chevy Avalanche owned by Knighten for the shing trip. Several hours later Sanders returned to the Knighten home where his daughter was with Knighten’s son. Sanders told them that he had killed Knighten.

Pontotoc Co. Sheriff Deputy Eric Niblett responded to a call from the home and arrived to find three young adults on the porch, an adult male in the yard, and an adult woman seated in a vehicle. With his fellow deputy on route, he requested assistance from Allen Police Chief Brett Edens.

Niblett then approached Sanders and asked him what was going on. The suspect appeared to be under the influence of an illegal drug and was unable to give an accurate story, however he did state that he had killed someone.

Sanders stated that Knighten was trying to feed him to Bigfoot so he had to kill him. He said they had been fighting on the ground for about an hour and said he then strangled him. He also said something about possibly firing two gun shots.

After learning Sanders had an outstanding warrant in Pontotoc County on an unrelated issue, Niblett placed him under arrest, handcuffed him, and placed him in the back of the Allen police vehicle and Chief Edens transported him to the Pontotoc County jail.

While standing near the Chevy Avalanche, Niblett notice was appeared to be blood on the tailgate of the truck and observed a machete lying on the ground. Blood was also observed on the bottom of the driver’s side door. The vehicle was secured and George Smith Wrecker Service was contacted to pick the vehicle up and transport it to the Lighthorse Police garage.

A call was made to Knighten’s cell phone which went directly to voicemail. His carrier was contacted to try and get a “ping” on his phone but they advised the phone was off and they were unable to assist.

Assistance was then requested from the county EMS, the Allen Fire Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Lighthorse Police Department, and the OSBI.

A search was started in the area of the riverbank where the two usually fished but the darkness hindered the search. The search was called off with the plan to regather in the morning. The body of Jimmy Knighten was located at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 10 ^th , from a position where it had been moved and partially hidden some distance away from the initial crime scene.

Sanders, who confessed to striking and strangling Knighten, has been charged with Murder in the First Degree and remains in the Pontotoc County Jail. The body was taken to the Medical Examiner’s office for official determination of the cause and manner of death.

Jimmy Glenn Knighten leaves four children, six grandchildren, and numerous other family and friends. A memorial service will be held this Saturday, July 16 ^th , 10:00 a.m., in the Allen School Auditorium.