Prosecuting Attorney: No Evidence of Wrongdoing in Linn’s Death

The prosecuting attorney who represents the county where Caleb Linn died said he doesn’t see any indication wrongdoing occurred in the death.

“I have not seen anything at this point that rises to the level of a criminal act,” Don McSpadden, prosecuting attorney for the 16th Judicial District, said Thursday. The district includes Fulton County and four other counties in north central Arkansas.

Linn, who would have turned 5 years old next Tuesday, was reported missing Saturday at Kia Kima scout reservation near Cherokee Village in Fulton County. The Springdale boy’s body was recovered Wednesday in the south fork of the Spring River. He had been at the river with relatives and others cleaning debris at a bridge, officials said.

Authorities said this week a great-aunt was with Linn when he left the site to catch up with a group that had departed earlier to return to a camp about one-eighth mile away. Fulton County Sheriff Buck Foley said he would submit his investigation report to the prosecuting attorney for possible criminal negligence charges.

McSpadden said he was told one group of about seven had left the site, leaving about four behind, including Linn. The prosecuting attorney said youths 13 and 14 years old apparently were in the group with Linn. He said he has spoken about the incident with Foley and an investigator from Sharp County.

“From all indications, I don’t know there has been any wrongdoing,” McSpadden said.

He said the Arkansas State Police is investigating the death and is the agency that will determine whether to forward its investigation to him for possible charges.

Bill Sadler, State Police spokesman, said the department is awaiting an analysis of Linn’s body from the state crime lab before pursuing its investigation. He said the State Police would forward its report to the prosecuting attorney if indication exists of a crime