In a rather unsettling turn of events, a 60-year-old man was found dead near a campsite in Arkansas after what authorities suspect was a bear attack. Authorities from the Newton County Sheriff’s office were alerted to a welfare check request in the Sam’s Throne campground area after a call from a man who stated that his father had been camping there, but they had not heard back from him for a couple of days. A deputy was promptly dispatched to patrol the area, leading to the startling discovery.
After the deputy visited the campsite area, they spotted the man’s truck and campsite. The campsite appeared disturbed and ragged, suggesting a struggle and possible injury had already taken place. There were also strong drag marks leading from the campsite towards the woods, pointing strongly to the possibility of a carnivore attack. The initial probe then led to the investigators being called to scan further the place, where they ultimately found the body of the man, a Missouri resident. It was found several yards away from the campground.
The authorities mentioned, “The campsite had been disturbed and there was evidence of a struggle and injury. There were also drag marks leading from the campground into the woods. The body of the deceased had extensive injuries consistent with those expected from a large carnivore attack.” While there seems to be strong evidence of an animal attack, a further big hint was found in the victim’s phone, where pictures of a young male bear were found. The man had clicked those himself and sent them to his family, marking his last known conversation with them before his death. This message was recorded to be sent two days before the fatal event.
According to Sheriff Glen Wheeler, his office cannot officially classify the case as an animal attack, despite the evidence indicating the same. It can only be determined after an autopsy is performed on the body, which the Arkansas Crime Lab will do. The press release from their end further read as “We are attempting to find the bear and dispose of it so the Game and Fish Commission can test it for anything that may have led to the encounter. We know without a doubt that a bear was in camp with our victim, and the injuries absolutely are consistent with a bear attack.”
The sheriff’s office has also marked this case as highly unusual, extending caution to future campers and hikers who visit the area, considering the potential animal movement and the risk of attacks. Moreover, the Sheriff himself emphasized that once a bear becomes predatory, it is known to continue such violent behaviors in the future as well. Meanwhile, the U.S. Forest Service has now put a temporary lock on the Sam’s Throne Campground, considering the safety and welfare of the people after the alleged bear attack.
Interestingly, this marks the second animal, or more specifically, a bear attack, in the state of Arkansas within the same month. The first one resulted in the death of a 72-year-old man named Vernon Patton, who is a resident of Franklin County. He was mauled and killed by a bear earlier this month while spreading gravel on a road
Highlighting the two bizarre incidents occurring within the same month, Keith Stephens, the chief of communications from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, mentioned, “I don’t even know how to put it into words, to tell you the truth. These things just don’t happen. It just seems so bizarre. It’s not even in my realm of comprehension. I’m really in shock today.”
