June 12, at approximately 8:22 pm, Baxter County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a 911 call of domestic violence at a residence on Feather Hill Terrace in the rural Lone Rock area.  While en route to the call,  911 dispatchers advised deputies that the male subject had fled into the woods carrying a bible and a handgun and allegedly threatening suicide if the police were called.

The Baxter County Sheriff’s Helicopter along with the tracking dogs from the Arkansas Department of Corrections were called to the scene and a search was initiated. After a three hour search the suspect was located by the tracking dog team and taken into custody without incident at approximately 11:34 pm.

Further investigation determined that the suspect, 57 year old Marshall Paul McGowan and his wife 47 year old Loretta Michelle McGowan had been involved in a physical altercation that started over the discipline of their child. Punches were thrown with Mr. McGowan being struck over the head with a toilet plunger at one point. Both Marshall and Loretta were both intoxicated and both sustained injuries, but did not require medical treatment.

Loretta McGowan and Marshall McGowan were both taken into custody and transported to the Baxter County Detention Center.  Both were charged with Domestic Battery, 3^rd Degree.  They both posted a $500 bond and were released pending their appearance in Baxter County District Court on June 28, 2012 at 9 am.

Sheriff John Montgomery