Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bailey death ruled homicide

Thurman "Fat Wally" Bailey, 79, of 1569 Smithton Road, was apparently killed early Wednesday morning, Jan. 25, after his body was bound and items were taken from his home.

According to Jonnie Smith, 40, a neighbor and best friend of the victim, he talked to Bailey late Tuesday evening.

"I have known Fat Wally all my life, which is 40 years. He loaned people money and helped everyone. It will be hard to live out here now."

Clark County Sheriff Ray Wingfield said in a press release Thursday afternoon, "Preliminary autopsy findings issued by the state medical examiner established Thurman Bailey died as a result of arteriosclerotic heart disease with a contributing factor involving the binding of his body.

"The manner of his death has been determined to be homicide. There was no physical trauma to the body."

The sheriffs report also said the body was discovered inside his home about noon on Wednesday by two men who arrived to complete some work for him.

These men notified 911 to report the incident to the Clark County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriff Wingfield and his deputies responded to the residence and found evidence of foul play.

Investigators from the sheriffs office and Arkadelphia Police Department examined the scene and recovered physical evidence. Investigators determined Bailey had been bound, the interior of the residence ransacked and some personal property was missing.

The incident is still under investigation.

Sheriff Wingfield said, "The investigation has not yielded any definite suspects at this time, but we are in the process of identifying and locating a number of persons that we need to interview.

"The body was bound. However, we can not disclose any details regarding the manner or materials used. Some physical evidence is being analyzed."

The sheriff thanked the Gurdon Police Department and others who provided assistance.

"We had a tremendous response from local and state law enforcement agencies, and the fire departments in our county, who voluntarily assisted in a number of actions vital to the investigation."

Smith said he considered Bailey like a father to him.

He said, "I did his affairs for him because he could not read and my wife washed his clothes. My son raked his leaves. He always gave every kid in the neighborhood $10 for Christmas."

Smith, of 1597 Smithton Road, said the victim never married or had children.

"Fat Wally used to loan money a lot," Smith said. "But he told me he quit loaning just yesterday. He was acting a little strange. If I had known who wanted money this bad, I would have given it to them myself."

Smith said he had a brother to get murdered just down the road in Smithton back in 1983.

"Fat didnt bother nobody. He was just a giving person," Smith said.