Days after sending bear photos to his family, man found dead in suspected animal attack

A 60-year old Missouri man was found dead after suffering severe injuries in a “large carnivore attack” just two days after sending his family photos of a bear from his Arkansas campsite

A 60-year old Missouri man was found dead after suffering severe injuries in a “large carnivore attack” just two days after sending his family photos of a bear from his Arkansas campsite.

A Newton County deputy found the man’s truck and campsite at the campground at Sam’s Throne Campground near Mt. Judea, Arkansas, on Thursday after the victim’s son said his father had not been heard from in days and requested a welfare check, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

“The campsite had been disturbed and there was evidence of a struggle and injury,” the press release read. “There were also drag marks leading from the campground into the woods. The man was not in his camp.”

The unidentified man’s body was eventually discovered several yards outside the campsite with “extensive injuries of those expected from a large carnivore attack,” the release said.

“Until the Arkansas Crime Lab completes the autopsy, we can’t 100% say it was a bear, but everything strongly indicates it,” said Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler.