The mystery of a skull found along the Red River in Hempstead County, Ark., has been solved and identified as a 17th-century Caddo male, according to the analysis for the Center for Human Identification at the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
The report identifying the skull as a Caddo was delivered to the Hempstead County Sheriff's Department Thursday, said Sheriff James Singleton. The forensic anthropologist conducted the analysis at the university.
The Arkansas State Crime Lab had shipped the remains of the skull to the Center for Human Identification on Sept. 30, 2014.
"The cranium is consistent with a young American Indian male," the report said.
"They found a stud in the skull's jaw like a ring of some sort. It was a stud like people use today," Singleton said.
According to the report, the practice of a stud in the jaw was common in the Caddos prior to the arrival of the French in Louisiana in the late 17th century, said Singleton.
The skull could be 416 years old.
"I'm just proud we finally got an identification," Singleton said.
Dove hunters discovered the skull Sept. 8, 2014, on a sandbar on the Red River about 6 miles south of Fulton.
"The skull had been there or somewhere for a while," he said.
Singleton said the skull will be turned over to the Arkansas Heritage Commission, which will determine how to return the skull to the Caddos.
"This has helped to solve part of the mystery," he said. "I'm proud we got a conclusion on this skull."
However, Hempstead County and Hope, Ark. still has three people missing, Singleton said.
The missing are:
Casey Clark
Casey Clark, the first to go missing, is described as a 5-foot 6-inch tall, 175-pound man and is known as an "outgoing guy."
He has not been seen since March 27, 2012.
At the time of his disappearance, he lived at the Amandex Apartments in Fulton, Ark.
His car was found at the Boll Weevil Liquor Store in Fulton.
Joseph Cowart
Joseph Christopher Cowart, a Navy veteran who "kept to himself," vanished from his Hope, Ark., home nearly two months later on May 15, 2012.
"His house was locked, and his pickup truck parked under the carport, and it was locked. It's like he just walked out the door," said Singleton.
Cowart lived at 3096 Arkansas Highway 174 S. He is described as a 6-foot tall, 195-pound man.
"It's an old-fashioned mystery and it's bugging me. We touch on the disappearances at least once or twice a week," Singleton said in a previous interview.
Though the men's phone records and bank accounts are monitored by law enforcement officials, there has been no activity.
"They disappeared, and somebody knows something. We would like to tell the family something for closure. Maybe we can find them alive and well," Singleton said.
Madeline Tomlin
A $7,000 reward is available for information regarding Madeline Tomlin's location. The then-24-year-old woman was last seen May 20, 2015, in Hope. She was wearing light blue cotton pants and a white or cream-colored top.
"Madeline's family and friends believe that it is very unlikely that Madeline would willingly go this long without contact with them," Assistant Police Chief Kim Tomlin said in a previous interview.
Madeline Tomlin is 5 feet 5 inches and weighs 115 pounds with brownish-red hair and green eyes.
She has a butterfly tattoo on her foot, the name Cash on her ankle and a horseshoe on her shoulder.
Contact the Hope Police Department at 870-703-3481, 870-777-3434 or 870-703-3481 or call any local police department.
Anyone with information can also call the sheriff's department at 870-777-6727 or email [email protected].