West Plains, MO. – The body of the hunter that went missing on Sunday was found on Wednesday morning. The body of Phillip Carnell, age 58 of Sikeston, Missouri, was recovered Wednesday morning about 900 feet from the location he had gone hunting.
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways reported the news around 5 p.m. on November 16.
Carnell was deer hunting in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, near Cave Spring in Carter County. He was dropped off at his hunting spot on the morning of November 13 by a friend. When he failed to return from hunting later in the day and could not be located by family and friends, he was reported missing. Emergency responders began scouring the area for Carnell that evening.
After more than two days of intense searching, volunteers on horseback discovered Carnell’s body on a small island in a slough on November 16. It is suspected that he became lost and crossed the slough onto the island while tracking a deer. The condition of the body is consistent with death caused by hypothermia and exposure. An investigation is ongoing.
During the course of the search, multiple local agencies, fire departments, and organizations provided personnel and resources. There was a huge outpouring of community support, with nearly 150 volunteers combing the area on November 14 and 15. The search teams utilized nearly every means of search available by air, land, and water. Volunteers and emergency responders traversed the area on foot, in vehicles, by boat, and on horseback. Aircraft and drones flew over the area multiple times, and dog teams were used in an attempt to pick up a scent trail.
