Man found dead in Arkansas attack after sending family photos of bear at his campsite

A Missouri man was found dead from a likely bear attack this week, just two days after he sent photos to his family of a bear at his campsite in Arkansas, according to officials. 

Police found the 60-year-old man’s body several hundred yards from his campsite near Mt. Judea, Arkansas, on Thursday. The area showed signs of a struggle and had drag marks away from the camp.

The man's son had asked for a welfare check because his dad hadn’t checked in for a couple of days since sending the photos.  

His body has "extensive" injuries "consistent with those expected from a large carnivore attack," the Newton County Sheriff’s Department said in a release. 

ALASKA JOGGER DRAGGED 100 YARDS BY BEAR IN TERRIFYING PREDAWN ATTACK NEAR DRIVEWAY

Search efforts were still underway on Saturday to find the bear, which appeared to be a young male, according to the photos sent by the man. Officials said they weren't sure the bear in the photos was the one that attacked. 

"Until the Arkansas Crime Lab completes the autopsy, we can't 100% say it was a bear, but everything strongly indicates it," Sheriff Glenn Wheeler said in a statement. "We are attempting to find the bear and dispose of it so the Game and Fish Commission can test it for anything that may have led to the encounter."

He added, "We know without a doubt that a bear was in camp with our victim and the injuries absolutely are consistent with a bear attack. This is a highly unusual case. We are very early in the investigation and search and will update as we can. If you are in the area, just be aware and use caution, especially with children. History tells us that once a bear becomes predatory, it often continues those behaviors."

The campground, known as Sam's Throne, has been temporarily closed to the public while the search for the bear continues. Wheeler warned people to be vigilant while enjoying the outdoors: keep food away from where you sleep, don’t approach bears even if they’re small and carry bear spray or some other way to defend yourself. 

WOMAN SAVES HUSBAND'S LIFE WITH BEAR SPRAY DURING GRIZZLY ATTACK IN WILDERNESS

"I don't want this to become open season on any bear that someone may see, as most bears fear humans and run away," Wheeler added. "But, at the same time, don't put yourself or others in jeopardy."

This would be the second bear attack in the state in a month if confirmed. 

A 72-year-old Arkansas man was mauled by a black bear in early September. He later died of his injuries. 

Before that, the last fatal bear attack in Arkansas was in 1892, according to the Arkansas Times. 

"I don’t even know how to put it into words, to tell you the truth. These things just don’t happen," Keith Stephens, the chief of communications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, told the newspaper. "It just seems so bizarre. It’s not even in my realm of comprehension. I’m really in shock today. Actually, when I was told about it, I thought they were kidding me just to give me a hard time from the last one. It’s obviously not a joking matter, but it just didn’t seem real." 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The bear in the first attack was previously euthanized. 

WNBA commissioner's past comments on Caitlin Clark's earnings resurface after her denial of alleged remarks

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's previous comments about league and Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark's earning potential during a CNBC interview resurfaced on social media Friday.

The previous comments came to light after Engelbert denied telling Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier that Clark "should be grateful she makes $16 million off the court because without the platform that the WNBA gives her, she wouldn't make anything," according to Collier.

While Engelbert denied making that statement during a news conference Friday, her previous comments during an interview at the CNBC Changemakers Summit in April 2024 echoed similar themes.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"Caitlin has the ability to make up to a half-million dollars just in WNBA wages this year. So, of course, they’re just looking at a base which is collectively bargained. And, actually, it’s low because she’s the No. 1 pick. She’ll make a little more than that," Engelbert said.

"She also has millions and millions of dollars [in] endorsements. Because she declared to become pro, her endorsements are higher in dollar value. She has a global platform now, not just a U.S. platform. So, she’s going to do just fine as will the top players in the league as every league does."

Engelbert's made the comments just days after Clark was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Fever. Clark's WNBA base salary that year was just $76,535. 

Clark did sign an eight-year, $28 million deal with Nike that she signed in April 2024, before she ever played a game in the WNBA. And she had previous deals with Nike and other sponsors during her college career at Iowa.

The commissioner faced immense backlash from fans, media pundits and active players after Collier made the allegations that Engelbert said Clark should be "grateful" and "wouldn't make anything" without the WNBA last week, which Collier said came in a private conversation.

Collier also alleged Engelbert told her, "Players should be on their knees, thanking their lucky stars for the media rights deal that I got them."

While addressing the alleged comments about Clark, Engelbert denied making them.

"Obviously, I did not make those comments. Caitlin has been a transformational player in this league. She's been a great representative of the game. She’s brought in tens of millions of new fans to the game," Engelbert said at Friday's news conference.

However, Engelbert did not explicitly deny making the alleged comments about players that "should be on their knees." Instead, the commissioner responded by claiming there have been a lot of "inaccuracies" reported in the media.

"There's a lot of inaccuracy out there through social media and all this reporting," Engelbert said. "A lot of reporting, a lot of innacuracy about what I say, what I didn't say."

INSIDE CAITLIN CLARK AND ANGEL REESE'S IMPACT ON MEN'S BASKETBALL

Engelbert later said, "I'm disheartened. I'm a human too. I have a family. I have two kids who are devastated by these comments. So, all I say is that it's obviously been a tough week, and I just think there's a lot of innacuracy out there."

Still, Engelbert acknowledged that if players don't feel "appreciated," she has "to do better."

"I was disheartened to hear that some players feel the league and that I personally do not care about them or listen to them," Engelbert said before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals Friday night.

"If the players in the ‘W’ don’t feel appreciated and value from the league, we have to do better, and I have to do better."

The WNBA and its players' union, the WNBPA, are in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

The players’ association and the WNBA agreed to an eight-year agreement in 2020, but the WNBPA voted last eyar to opt out of the agreement early. The current agreement expires Oct. 31. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

About Us

Virtus (virtue, valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth)

Vincit (conquers, triumphs, and wins)