Camper Discovered Dead Days After Sharing Bear Photos with Family; Authorities Believe He Fought for His Life in Possible Attack

Table of Contents

• Discovery of Camper's Body
• Investigation Details
• Bear Attack Speculation
• Previous Bear Attacks
• Safety Precautions

The body of a camper has been discovered with severe injuries consistent with an animal attack, just two days after he shared photos of a bear with his family.

Concerns were raised by the unidentified man's son when his father ceased communication while camping at Sam's Throne Campground in Arkansas.

The Sam's Throne Campground in Arkansas has been closed following the discovery of a camper's body with significant injuries likely caused by a bear attack. The 60-year-old man from Missouri had sent pictures of a bear near his campsite before he stopped communicating (stock image).

The 60-year-old man from Missouri was located several yards from the campsite on October 2 after his son requested a welfare check, having not heard from him “for a couple of days.”

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release that he had been dragged from the campsite, which had been “disturbed,” and where officers found “evidence of a struggle and injury.”

“There were also drag marks leading from the campground into the woods,” the release added.

While officials await autopsy results to confirm the cause of death, they mentioned that his body had “extensive injuries consistent with those expected from a large carnivore attack.”

This aligns with the images he sent to his family just days before his body was found, depicting a “young male bear” near his campsite on September 30.

“Until the Arkansas Crime Lab completes the autopsy, we can’t definitively say it was a bear, but all evidence strongly suggests it,” Sheriff Glenn Wheeler stated.

“We are actively trying to locate the bear and dispose of it so the Game and Fish Commission can conduct tests to determine what may have led to the encounter.

“We are certain that a bear was present with our victim, and the injuries are absolutely consistent with a bear attack.

“This is an extremely rare case. We are still in the early stages of the investigation and search and will provide updates as we have them.

“If you are in the area, please be cautious, especially with children,” he added.

“History indicates that once a bear becomes predatory, it tends to continue those behaviors.”

As the search for the bear persists, Sam's Throne Campground has been closed to the public.

If confirmed to have been caused by a bear, this camper's death would mark the state's second fatal bear attack within a month, which is highly unusual.

On September 3, Vernon Patton, 72, was attacked by a 70-pound bear while spreading gravel on a road in the Mulberry Mountain area.

His son, who witnessed the horrific attack, later confirmed that his father succumbed to his injuries on September 14.

Experiencing two fatal bear attacks in such a brief period within the same state is exceedingly rare.

Keith Stephens, the chief of communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, described the situation as “bizarre” while speaking to The Arkansas Times.

“I struggle to articulate this. Such incidents are exceptionally rare,” he said.

“It just feels so surreal. It’s beyond my comprehension. I’m genuinely in shock today.”

Sheriff Wheeler has urged extreme caution and emphasized the rarity of such attacks.

“I don’t want this to lead to a witch hunt for any bears that may be spotted, as most bears fear humans and will flee,” he cautioned.

“However, do not endanger yourself or others.”

Officials are still searching for the bear while awaiting confirmation of the man's cause of death.