If you have been following the story of missing ‘Backroad Anthem’ singer, Craig Strickland, it is with great sadness that it has been reported his body has been found. The singer’s body was recovered in Kaw Lake in Oklahoma, where he and friend, Chase Morland, had gone duck hunting on December 27th.
Strickland’s friend Morland was found dead last Monday.
Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials say 29-year-old’s Strickland’s body was discovered north of where his boat capsized. According to tweets from 40/29 News’ Pedro Rivera, Strickland’s body was found just north of where his capsized boat was discovered on December 28th, near the shoreline.
An Instagram post from Strickland’s wife, Helen Strickland, reveals that the artist had made it out of the lake after his boat capsized.
The night of the accident, he had fought his way out of the water and up a hill before the stages of hypothermia set in. He experienced no pain in his final moments and simply felt like he was falling asleep,” she explains. “The found him lying in the shape of a cross looking up to his Father.”
Until Monday, everyone who knew Craig Strickland were holding on to the hope that he would be found alive. The singer’s black labrador Sam had survived the harsh temperatures. The dog was said to be guarding Morland’s body when he was found. Morland’s cause of death has been ruled drowning and exposure to the freezing temperature, but it can take 4-8 weeks for a full autopsy report.
Strickland and Morland were reported missing one day after taking an early morning hunting trip in bad weather. “In case we don’t come back, @BackroadCRAIG and I are going right through Winter Storm Goliath to kill ducks in Oklahoma. #IntoTheStorm,” Morland tweeted before they left.
Thank you to every single person who prayed for him and our family during this time. There was not a more peaceful way for him to go into the arms of our Lord, and I know your prayers had a role in making that happen,” “I know he saw Jesus at that moment when he laid down and walked arm in arm with Him into a better Everlasting Life,” Helen Strickland stated.
If you are looking for a way to help, a GoFundMe account has been set up for friends and fans to help cover the expenses associated with the search efforts and Craig Strickland’s burial.
His passion for music and the stage are what many times have kept us going miles and miles down the road,” Strickland’s Backroad Anthem bandmades wrote on Facebook on Dec. 30. “We want y’all — our fans, friends and loved ones — to know Craig is an amazing person, husband, son, bandmate and most certainly best friend.”
Backroad Anthem are a country rock band out of Fayetteville, Ark. that looked to be making their way onto larger stages. They have opened for several major headliners and counted artists like Justin Moore. They have been keeping fans up to date on their Facebook page.
Country Music Pride extends our deepest sympathies during this tragedy and will continue to keep Craig’s family, friends and bandmates in our thoughts and prayers.
Watch Backroad Anthem perfrom “Say It To You” #RIPCraigStrickland
https://youtu.be/veNraBbLGTo
