UPDATE:  December 13, 2017

The Sheriff's Office has been notified by phone from the Arkansas State Medical Examiner's Office in Little Rock that the death of 77 year old DONALD CRUSE of Clarkridge has been ruled a suicide.  Based upon that ruling, upon physical evidence at the scene of the death, and upon statements and interviews of witnesses, the Sheriff's Office has also deemed the death to be a suicide.

/s/ Sheriff John Montgomery

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

December 8, 2017

At approximately 7:56 am this date, Baxter County Deputies responded to a 911 call of a deceased male at 1732 CR 168, Clarkridge.  Sheriff’s Deputies and Investigators arrived and found a 77 year old male deceased in a small travel type trailer, where he lived beside the residence.

According to the victim’s son, he had checked on his father before he went to work at around 5 pm yesterday and found his father deceased this morning when he went to check on him when he arrived home. It was reported to Sheriff’s Investigators that the victim had been diagnosed and was suffering from a terminal illness.

Due to the small space and lighting conditions the body was removed by the Baxter County Coroner’s Office. Upon further examination the victim appeared to have a single gunshot wound to the head. A small 22 caliber derringer type gun was recovered at the scene. Evidence was collected at the scene and witnesses interviewed.

The body of 77 year old Donald Cruse is being sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office at the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock to determine the cause and manner of death.

An active instigation is ongoing.

Sheriff John Montgomery