Death Of Man Found In River Ruled A Suicide

The body of a 43-year-old man was recovered by rangers from the Buffalo River near Carver Landing on the morning of May 16th. The man had been reported missing by his family after failing to return home the previous night. The man’s uncle found his wrecked pickup in the woods off Highway 123 just south of Carver Bridge and followed a blood trail to the river’s edge. A hasty search was begun by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and rangers were called in to assist. As they were arriving, the man’s body was spotted underwater just downstream from the point where the blood trail ended. An NPS johnboat was launched and the body was retrieved from the river. Based on statements he made to acquaintances and evidence found on his body and at the spot where the pickup was located, the death has been ruled a suicide. The body was sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy.