A missing person case at the end of June has resulted in the arrest of a 30-year-old Ozark man after it was determined that Jack Whitten of Ozark was shot in around June 22 on Highway 352 in Franklin County announced the arrest on Monday.
Dennis Wayne “Bubba” Pledger, Jr., faces charges of first-degree battery and homicide-attempted murder in the case.
Whitten’s family reported him missing on June 26, Whitten’s vehicle had been found abandoned alongside Highway 352 on June 22.
Officials with Franklin County started looking for Whitten the same day his vehicle was found, but Whitten was located on June 29 about 100 yards from where his vehicle was found abandoned and was airlifted to Springdale where he was admitted in critical condition and currently remains in ICU.
He had suffered a gun shot wound to the head.
Whitten told officials he survived by eating berries and thought he had been there for a week to 10 days.
Investigators interviewed several “people of interest” the day after Whitten was found which led to the arrest of Pledger on Friday.
Lock him back up! He is out roaming around free and should not be!!