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Body of missing Sikeston hunter found Wednesday
The body of a missing Sikeston man was found Wednesday morning in Carter County.
Phillip Carnell, 58, who had been missing since Sunday, was found Wednesday in a slough near where he was hunting.
According to a statement from the Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Carnell was deer hunting in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, near Cave Spring in Carter County. He was dropped off at his hunting spot on Sunday morning by a friend. When he failed to return from hunting later in the day and could not be located by family and friends, he was reported missing.
National Park Service personnel along with Missouri Highway Patrol Aviation Division, Missouri Department of Conservation and Carter County Emergency Response teams began combing the ground near Cave Spring southeast of Van Buren searching for Carnell, who was reported missing Sunday evening when he didn’t come in from hunting near Cave Spring.
After more than two days of intense searching, volunteers on horseback discovered Carnell’s body on a small island in a slough Wednesday. The ONSR reported that he became lost and crossed the slough onto the island while tracking a deer. The condition of the body is consistent with death caused by hypothermia and exposure. An investigation is ongoing.
Many friends and family volunteered their time to help search for Carnell.
During the course of the search, multiple local agencies, fire departments, and organizations provided personnel and resources. There was a huge outpouring of community support, with nearly 150 volunteers combing the area on Nov. 14 and 15.
According to the ONSR, the search teams utilized nearly every means of search available by air, land, and water.
Volunteers and emergency responders traversed the area on foot, in vehicles, by boat, and on horseback. Aircraft and drones flew over the area multiple times, and dog teams were used in an attempt to pick up a scent trail.
Kim Carnell, a cousin of Phillip Carnell, posted on social media Wednesday afternoon thanking family and friends and had been praying and encouraging.
“A very special thank you to every one who participated in the search,” she said in the post. “The professionals on-site and volunteers, our family in indebted to you. May God richly bless you and reward you for your selfless acts. Please pray for his wife, grandchildren, parents, siblings and extended family. Our hearts are broken.”