February 14, 2013

The death of a 53 Year old Mountain Home man has been ruled a suicide by the Baxter County Coroner’s Office and the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office.  The name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

At approximately 12:35 am, Baxter County Deputy Dwight Duch (Duke) was in the Norfork area and observed a vehicle on River Ridge Road with its emergency flashers on. Deputy Duch found the male victim laying on the ground near his vehicle.  The victim had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest but was still breathing.  First Responders from the Norfork Fire Department and Medical Personnel from Baxter Regional Ambulance Service arrived on scene and began medical treatment but the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A 22 caliber H&R revolver was found next to the body.  A suicide note, along with several other handwritten notes, was also found inside the vehicle along with other instructions as to his funeral arraignments etc.  Dr. William Snow, Baxter County Coroner, arrived at the scene and after an investigation with Sheriff’s Investigators, ruled the death a suicide.

Sheriff John Montgomery