Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Local man's body found; authorities investigating possible reason for death

A 43-year-old Prescott man was found dead off a road known locally as Hines Boulevard Monday, April 14.

According to reports from the Arkansas State Police and Nevada County Sheriff's Office, a call came in around 3:30 p.m. concerning a person laying on the ground off the road on Hines Blvd. Officers arrived minutes later, saw the body and called the Nevada County Ambulance Service.

The body was identified as Steve Hawley, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

At this point, the ASP Co. C criminal investigation division was called in. ASP investigators processed the scene and began interviewing people concerning the circumstances surrounding the death.

Weapons were found at the scene, and, according to ASP CID Lt. Cleve Barfield, Hawley's body was sent to the Arkansas Crime Lab, where it was determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound.

However, he said, the manner of death is pending until a full autopsy report is returned to the 8th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Meanwhile, investigation into Hawley's death continues with the ASP, NCSO and Prescott Police Department conducting interviews with witnesses.