TAHLEQUAH -- Authorities say a Tahlequah man has been arrested in connection with a strangulation death.
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Tahlequah police found 43-year-old Jess Nofire Jr. in the cellar of a vacant house frequented by homeless people. According to a news release, there were no obvious signs of a struggle, but the death was ruled a homicide Tuesday afternoon by the state Medical Examiner's Office.
The release says Bryan Keith Luethje told detectives that he choked Nofire during a drunken argument and told them where to find Nofire's body.
Luethje initially was arrested on an outstanding warrant. He reportedly told police about the slaying during questioning and is in jail on a second-degree murder complaint.
Bail has been set at $250,000.
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Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.
