Robert E. Finch

UPDATE:  10/21/2013 7:00 PM

DELORES FINCH escaped from her husband, ROBERT E. FINCH, at approximately 9:30 AM this morning after Sheriff’s Lieutenant Rick Lucy located their vehicle at the Calamity Beach Recreation Area of Lake Norfork near the Missouri state line. 

ROBERT E. FINCH observed the Sheriff’s Office vehicle coming down the trail to Calamity Beach.  FINCH put the vehicle he was driving into reverse and backed away.  After about 100 yard, the vehicle FINCH was driving became high-centered and stopped.  DELORES FINCH escaped from the vehicle at this time and fled for safety toward the deputy.  ROBERT FINCH fled from the vehicle into a heavily wooded area adjacent to Calamity beach.      An ambulance from Baxter Regional Medical Center was summoned to attend to DELORES FINCH.  She was subsequently transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.  The Sheriff's Office understand she was later released.

Sheriff’s Deputies, Arkansas State Police Troopers, and Wildlife Officers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission initiated a manhunt for ROBERT FINCH.  Search operations were undertaken by ground crews, the Sheriff’s Office helicopter, and by tracking dogs from the Arkansas Department of Corrections – North Central Unit at Calico Rock.  U. S. Army Corp of Engineers Park Rangers also launched a boat to patrol along the shore line.  After searching for approximately four hours, ROBERT FINCH had not been found or sighted again.   

Air operations and canine operations ceased at approximately 1:30 PM, however several ground units continue to patrol the area.  About an hour later at around 2:30 PM, the Sheriff’s Office received a report from a citizen indicating he had seen and spoken to a person matching the description of ROBERT FINCH at the Calamity Beach area just prior to calling.  The citizen indicated the suspect was wet, shivering, and not wearing a shirt at that time, and the citizen provided a grey thermal shirt to the man.  Upon receiving this additional report, Sergeant Lee Sanders returned to the beach within minutes, and the helicopter and tracking dogs were recalled to the scene.  The active search continued until approximately 6:00 PM, but ROBERT FINCH was not spotted again and remains at large.  The Sheriff’s Office will be preparing paperwork for an arrest warrant to be issued for felony charges related to this incident.

ROBERT FINCH is not believed to pose a specific danger or threat to any other persons, however anyone residing in the area should exercise standard precautions, such as keeping doors and windows locked on their houses and removing keys from all vehicles.  Sheriff’s deputies will continue to provide concentrated patrol in the immediate area for several more hours.  Anyone seeing ROBERT FINCH or anyone having knowledge of his current whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office. 

Original Release Below:

 The Sheriff’s Office is attempting to locate two persons involved in a domestic violence assault that occurred this morning at approximately 5:52 AM at 7158 Highway 126 N #7 in the Midway area.

     A third party caller told the Sheriff’s Office that a man, identified as 29 year old ROBERT E. FINCH, had kicked in the front door of the residence, struck his wife, 26 year old DELORES FINCH, in the head with a crow bar, then forced her into a vehicle against her will and left.

     When Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the residence, they found evidence that an act of violence had occurred there.  ROBERT and DELORES FINCH are believed to be traveling in a 1996 Mercury Marquis, white, bearing Arkansas disabled license plate no. 248226.  ROBERT FINCH was believed to be wearing blue jeans and a grey dress shirt.  DELORES FINCH was believed to be wearing a blue tank top and grey sweat pants.  A photograph of her is not available at this time.

     Deputies and officers from surrounding agencies are searching the area and following up on leads as to their whereabouts.  DELORES FINCH is believed to have been injured.  They have had several previous addresses in Baxter County, and they also have ties to the Wright County, Missouri area. 

     Anyone having information as to their current whereabouts are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 870-425-7000.

Baxter County Sheriff’s Office