UPDATE:  08/08/2012

The Arkansas Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the man whose body was found by Deputy Tracy Munson on August 6^th outside the residence at 996 CR 804 while conducting a welfare check.  The victim is identified as 68 year old HERBERT LEON MURPHY, who resided at that address.  The Medical Examiner’s Office indicated the reason for death was from natural causes.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:  08/06/2012

Sheriff’s Deputies discovered the body of a man this morning while conducting a welfare check at 996 CR 804 in Gamaliel. The Sheriff’s Office had been asked to check the residence for an older man reported to be residing there because he had not been seen or heard from lately.

Sheriff’s Deputy Tracy Munson responded to the residence, arriving at 9:09 AM. After knocking at the door and not receiving an answer, Deputy Munson began to check around the perimeter of the house. It was then that Deputy Munson discovered the body of a man lying face down in the grass. The man had apparently been deceased for some period of time, and identification was not immediately possible. Sheriff’s Investigator Eric Neal was summoned to the scene, as was the Baxter County Coroner’s Office.

The body of the deceased is being sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office for positive identification and to determine the cause of death. The name of the deceased will not be released until identity of the body is verified and confirmed by the Medical Examiner.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff