At approximately 9:24 AM this morning, the Sheriff’s Office was notified that a deceased woman had been found by a man near the Wildcat Shoals Access area on the White River. 

     Sheriff’s Deputies and Sheriff’s Investigator Lt. Terry Johnson were dispatched to the location to investigate.  Authorities located the body of a female near a tree.  During the investigation, this woman was determined to be 41 year old DANETTE YVONNE BELL of Yellville, Arkansas.  Thursday evening, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Yellville had put out an attempt to locate broadcast to check for the welfare of BELL because she was reported to them as being suicidal.

     BELL’s vehicle was also found parked at the river access area.  Authorities found alcohol and empty prescription pill bottles near the body and in the vehicle, as well as a note written by BELL.  All indications are that the death was a suicide.

     The Baxter County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene to remove the body of the deceased, which is being sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office in Little Rock for autopsy to determine cause of death.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff