Sheriff Bell’s Press Release:
Today at approximately 2:30 PM, Deputies located a body that we believe to be that of our missing adult male Anthony Shane Scott.
Sequence of events:
On Wednesday December 4, at 11:35 PM Scott had called 911 from a cellular phone and stated that there was a man and a female arguing in his backyard at an address in downtown Pocahontas. Pocahontas Police were dispatched and were on the scene in approximately 4 minutes and were unable to locate Scott or anything unusual. At approximately 5:07 AM on December 5th. Scott again called 911 from the same phone that pinged at Newberry and Winter Road. This time Scott stated that he was being “trapped by the Sheriff’s Office” and that he needed help. Scott stated that he was going to a friend’s house and had got turned around and ended up in a creek. Dispatch lost contact with him and the phone lost service and we were unable to gain any further information. Temperatures at that time were below freezing.
The Randolph County Sheriff’s Office coordinated a massive search of the area for several days. The Pocahontas Fire department, Pro Med Ambulance, Arkansas Game and Fish, Arkansas State Police, Jonesboro Police Department and numerous volunteers and residents combed the area by foot, ATV, dog tracking teams, cadaver dog teams, high tech drones, aircraft and boats. Other investigative resources included the Morgan Nick Foundation, U.S. Marshalls service and several other resources.
Today at approximately 2:30 PM, Mr. Scott was found deceased approximately one mile from the original phone ping area. We do believe that the freezing temperatures will be a contributing factor.
Mr. Scott was in a remote area grown up with tall grass and underbrush. Mr. Scott’s body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock to determine the cause of death.
We would like to thank all those who assisted with this investigation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Sheriff Kevin Bell