Missouri man wanted for attempted murder in Arkansas found dead

HARDY, Ark. – A southern Missouri man wanted for attempted murder in Arkansas has been found dead in the Spring River.

Sharp County Sheriff Mark Counts told reporters that searchers using sonar from a boat found the body of 23-year-old Brandon Southerly of Poplar Bluff on Thursday near Hardy.

Counts says Southerly had led police on a chase at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour Tuesday after he struck a car, then later went to a home in Ravenden where he shot and wounded a man who answered Southerly’s knock at the door.

Counts says Southerly eventually stopped along the river and ran into a wooded area. His body was found in the river near where he left his vehicle.

Police say Southerly was wanted in Ripley County, Missouri, for a parole violation. Ripley County is in the south-central part of the state, near the Arkansas border.

This story was originally published May 7, 2016 at 10:35 AM with the headline "Missouri man wanted for attempted murder in Arkansas found dead."