During the flooding in Lawrence County on Friday April 5th, the Lawrence County Dispatch received several phone calls reporting a male subject, Kyle Evan Waterman, 27 of Springfield Missouri missing and last seen in the Imboden area. Members of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Dive Team, Arkansas Game and Fish and Arkansas State Police converged on the area he was last seen.
According to a passenger in the vehicle Waterman was traveling in, he started acting strange and exited the vehicle. A search was conducted in the area described but no trace of Waterman could be found. Authorities attempted to “ping” the subjects cell phone but according to his phone provider the phone was powered off. According to family members, Waterman attempted to contact them but lack of service made it hard to understand Waterman. Family told searchers that he described being in the woods and wet from the rains. The Lawrence County Dispatch Center was notified that his last location he used his phone was picked up by a tower on Pyburn Extended in Randolph.
The passenger in the vehicle returned to Springfield and had several conversations with the Sheriff’s Office about when Waterman was last seen. Authorities became suspicious after conflicting stories were told by the companion of Kyle Evan Waterman.
The first break in the case came when family members contacted Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and stated that Waterman’s companion told them that Waterman may have stolen a vehicle in the area of Hwy 25 outside of Black Rock and was not missing as claimed. As deputies checked reports it was discovered that a vehicle matching the description given had In fact been reported as stolen off Hwy 25.
Family members kept close contact with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office when on Friday they notified law enforcement that a message had been received by a friend of the subject stating he was trying to get back to Springfield. That same afternoon authorities were notified by Oregon County Missouri that the vehicle stolen from Lawrence County had been found and seemed to be involved in several other crimes.
Sources in Oregon County said a suspect matching the description of Kyle Evan Waterman had abandoned the vehicle stolen from Lawrence County and was now believed to be involved in stealing a Ford Explorer and 4-wheeler from Oregon County. Waterman is also the prime suspect in several cabin break-ins in the area of the Mark Twain National Forest in Oregon County. Sheriff’s Deputies discovered several stolen items in the abandoned vehicle left behind by the suspect. Waterman is believed to have stolen several guns as well.
As of 2 pm Wednesday, Kyle Evan Waterman was fleeing on foot from officers, K-9 tracking dogs were in route to the area to help in the arrest of Waterman.
Sources say Waterman faces several felony counts in Oregon County Missouri and felony charges back in Lawrence County Arkansas. Lawrence County Criminal Investigation Division is currently working with investigators from Oregon County Sheriff’s Office.
If you have seen Kyle Evan Waterman, contact the Oregon County Missouri Sheriff’s Department.
For more information on the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office visit www.lawrencecountysheriffsoffice.com .