January 14, 2012, at approximately 5 pm, Baxter County Sheriff’s Deputies Corporal Eddie Elliott and Sergeant Andy Bower responded to a call at 66 Lowe Drive, East of Mountain Home.  The caller was asking for a welfare check on his neighbor whom he hadn’t seen in several weeks. 

     When Deputies arrived the caller told them he had looked in his neighbor’s garage window and became concerned when he could see his neighbor’s truck in the garage.  Deputies checked the perimeter of the residence and found it to be secure.  Deputies were able to make entry into the resident and found the victim deceased.  Sheriff’s Investigator Eric Neal and Baxter County Deputy Coroner Jason Williams responded to the scene to continue the investigation.

     The victim, who authorities believe is that of 56 year old James R. Keller, was discovered lying on a bed with what is believed to be a single gunshot wound to the chest.  A folded American Flag was also on the bed and a 357 revolver was discovered on the floor next to the bed. 

       After the preliminary investigation, Investigators believe the victim died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest approximately 4 weeks earlier.  No foul play is suspected, however due to the length of time that had passed and the condition of the body, it is being sent to the Arkansas Medical Examiner’s Office to confirm the identity and to determine the cause and manner of death.

The investigation is continuing.

Sheriff John Montgomery