Saturday, August 17 at approximately 11:07 pm, the Baxter County Deputy, Charles Menschik was dispatched to 579 River Road, Lakeview, Arkansas, to a report of a body that had been found in a pond on the property.  Upon arrival, Deputy Menschik observed a body floating face down in a shallow pond that was located on the property.

Criminal Investigator Trey Edings and Baxter County Coroner William Snow arrived a short time later and removed the body. The body was identified as 47 year old Robert Wayne Vannatter of Midway, Arkansas. 

After the preliminary investigation it is believed  the victim and the property owner, Karl Drzka had been mowing a neighbor’s property earlier in the day. The two had been planning on going fishing later in the afternoon. Drzka left to purchase gasoline for the boat but when he arrived back around 3:45  Vannatter’s motorcycle was there but could not located Vannatter.  When Vannatter did not make an appearance after several hours, friends and relatives began searching and he was found in the pond.

Due to the victim’s medical history, the condition of the body and circumstances surrounding the incident there is no foul play suspected at this time. Vannatter’s body is being sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office in Little Rock to determine the cause and the manner of death. The investigation is continuing.

Sheriff John Montgomery