Sheriff’s office identifies man, son found dead

WIRTH, Ark. (KAIT) - The Sharp County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man and his son found dead Sunday in their hunting cabin.

Sheriff Shane Russell said deputies were called to the cabin on Bank Road just outside of Wirth around 11:15 Nov. 12.

When they arrived, they found 22-year-old Luke Adams of Caraway and his father, 46-year-old Gregory Adams of Marmaduke, on the floor.

Gregory Adams’ father, Michael, said the three of them had spent the weekend hunting while at the cabin.

According to the news release, Michael Adams said he awoke around 3 a.m. Sunday was cold, so he sat on the wall next to a propane stove. At one point, he got up to go to the bathroom and fell down.

He told detectives he attempted to wake the others, but got no response.

“After several hours, Michael was able to stand up,” Russell said. “He opened the door, noticed it was daylight, and discovered Gregory and Luke both on the floor unresponsive.”

Michael Adams left the cabin and asked a neighbor to call 911.

Detectives responding to the scene reported smelling a “dense odor of propane inside the residence,” Russell said.

“They discovered the propane stove to be turned in the ‘on’ position and the propane tank was empty,” the release stated.

The county coroner’s office transported both victims to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock to determine a cause of death. Russell said it is believed both men died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The sheriff said Michael Adams told investigators that a stove used to heat the cabin would sometimes malfunction.