CLAY COUNTY, Ark. — A Dexter man has been arrested in Poplar Bluff for homicide.
Heath A. Hunsaker, 30, of Dexter is charged with first-degree murder in the Tuesday shooting death of Matthew Hale in Rector, Arkansas. Hunsaker is being held in the Greene County, Arkansas, jail.
According to the arrest warrant issued by the Clay County District Court, Clay County 911 received a phone call at approximately 8:25 p.m. Tuesday regarding an unresponsive male in the front yard at a residence located in the 1400 block of U.S. Highway 49, just east of Rector.
When deputies arrived, they located the deceased body of a 35-year-old white male, identified as Hale, suffering from gunshot wounds. He was lying face down in the grass near the side entry of the home and shell casings also were found near his body, according to law enforcement.
The next day, agents with the Arkansas State Police say they received information from witnesses in Kennett regarding the homicide. Those witness statements were consistent with the injuries to Hale and also with evidence discovered at the crime scene, officials report. Following interviews, with those witnesses, the ASP was able to establish Hunsaker as a suspect in the homicide.
ASP agents and investigators of the Missouri State Highway Patrol then traveled to Poplar Bluff, where Hunsaker was located and later interviewed at MSHP Troop E headquarters.
Hunsaker allegedly confessed to shooting and fatally injuring Hale, and his confession reportedly was consistent with the injuries to Hale and other evidence located at the crime scene.
After interviewing Hunsaker, ASP agents and MSHP investigators say they were able to recover the murder weapon, along with additional evidence connected to the murder scene at various locations.
Hunsaker is being held without bond at the Greene County jail in Paragould. He is slated to make his first court appearance Monday.