| Updated: 8/26/2009 1:30 pm |
Published: 8/25/2009 4:11 pm |
Pulaski County authorities have identified a body that was discovered in a lake near North Little Rock as Tim A. Fuller, 44, of Little Rock. The cause of death has been determined to be drowning. Fuller was last seen by a family member on Sunday.
The body was found in a lake near Calm Lane and Matt Road around 2:30 pm Tuesday.
"A fisherman said he thought he spotted a body at the edge of the water,” John Rehrauer with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office said.
The man ran to Ronald Walton for help. "A gentleman stopped and asked me if I had a phone. I said, 'Yes sir I have a phone.' He told me 'I believe there's a body in the water,'” Walton explained.
He stopped his construction project to check it out. “I called the guy I’m working for and asked him to call the police department,” Walton said.
In no time, Pulaski County deputies and the coroner arrived on the scene. By 4:30, they recovered the body.
"It appears the body was not in the water a real long time,” Rehrauer said. "You can tell by its decomposition it hadn't been in the water too long."
Authorities add that this area of Pulaski County is one they often have to respond to for crime. That's why they're investigating if foul play is involved.
"We have had problems along Calm Lane in particular. We've had prostitution problems; we've had drug problems that we're called to on a fairly regular basis," Rehrauer added.
Coroner Garland Camper couldn't immediately say if there are any obvious signs of trauma. For the two men who first found the body it is something they are not likely to forget.
"It's sad,” Walton said. "I got sick to the stomach. It was just sickening."
