Hunter Finds Human Remains on Island on Arkansas River

Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown said a hunter reported finding human remains on a little island on the Arkansas River in Crawford County.

“A person hunting, scouting his hunting area had found a human skull,” said Chief Deputy Jim Damante, with the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

The hunter reported the skeletal remains to the Fort Smith Police Department around 5:30 p.m. Monday, however Fort Smith determined the bones were in Crawford County. Crawford County deputies went out to the scene immediately, and Sheriff Brown said they worked on processing the area until it was dark.

Sheriff Brown said the bones were so decomposed it was even indeterminable if they belonged to a woman or a man.”It appears to be an adult type bones,” said Damante.

The remains have been sent to the state crime lab. “There is some teeth in the skull and dental records are possible,” said Damante.

Crawford County Deputies began working the scene again early Tuesday morning and processing the evidence. “We’re searching the scene for any other type of remains or evidence or anything that might have been on there,” said Damante.

Deputies believe the remains have been on the island for a while, possibly two or three years. “There was no obvious signs of any trauma,” said Damante.

Sequoyah County Ron Lockhart says clues on scene allowed investigators to rule out if the remains belong to Glen Ray Cook, Jr. of Fort Smith. Cook was reported missing in June. His car was found near Muldrow, Okla. on the banks of the Arkansas River.