Izard County man found dead in tree

BAXTER COUNTY, AR (KAIT) - The Baxter County Sheriff's Office is investigating after a man's body was found in a tree Sunday morning.

The Izard County man's body was found in a wooded area near Wild Fern Lane, which is near the border between Baxter County and Izard County, off Highway 5 South.

The body of 27-year-old Weldon G. Speirs II, of Horseshoe Bend, was found by a member of the family.

Speirs was found suspended upside down in a large cedar tree.

The press release states that it appears the man's foot was lodged and tightly stuck in a crevice in the tree, and he was unable to free himself.

His family had reported Speirs missing on Friday to the Izard County Sheriff's Office, and the Baxter County Sheriff's Office was notified on Saturday.

Speirs was visiting a friend on Wild Fern Lane, and his car was still parked there.

It's not known why he had gone into the woods.

The body was removed by the Baxter County Coroner's Office.

He is being sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner's Office in Little Rock for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

It does appear the death was accidental, though.

The investigation will remain open awaiting the results of the autopsy.

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