More Teams Join Search for Missing Fort Smith Man

More teams are joining the search for a missing Fort Smith man who police said disappeared under suspicious circumstances. 

Sequoyah County Sheriff Ron Lockhart said the sheriff’s office, Fort Smith police, and  rural fire departments returned to search in the wooded area near Mayo Dam at approximately 7 a.m. Thursday. 

Lockhart says they had 20 four wheelers on hand for the search, but were experiencing some rain delays.

Tuesday, deputies found a car believed to belong to Glen Ray Cook Jr., who has been missing for a little more than a week.

Cook, 46, was reported missing to police Monday by a family member.

“He has schizophrenia, so therefore, it’s in his nature to always worry about everything that’s going on and let people know about him, so this is very not like him at all,” said Cook’s nephew Joshua Adkins.

Cook’s vehicle was found Tuesday in an area known as the Muldrow Bottoms at the Mayo Dam on a sand bar, according to Sheriff Lockhart. The sheriff is calling this case “suspicious.”

“It’s obvious he tried to drive through it and got stuck,” said Sheriff Lockhart. “We know it’s been here since Saturday night.”

Adkins told police someone called the family from Cook’s phone and claimed it had been found, along with his vehicle at the bottoms, according to the missing person’s report.

“We were hoping to maybe find something around the car,” said Fort Smith Detective Jeff Carter. “We will be processing the car to see if there is any potential leads there that will give us some evidence or where to look next.”

Cook is described as a white male, 5’11”, 210 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.

The family told police Cook is a paranoid schizophrenic who stopped taking his medications, according to Wes Milam of the police department. The family also said he may be using methamphetamines, according to the missing person’s report.

If you have any information on Cook’s whereabouts, call River Valley Crime Stoppers at (479) 78-CRIME.