Arkansas Game and Fish Commission says the black bear shot on Oct. 4 in Newton County is not the animal that killed camper Max Thomas at Sam’s Throne. Meanwhile, the attacker remains at large and closures stay in place.
Forensic tests rule out DNA match
Final DNA analysis from the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Science Laboratory found no match between samples from the victim and the euthanized male bear.
AGFC says the initial cull was based on size, markings and proximity but the forensic results required a course correction.
Victim’s final days while struggling with the bear
Max Thomas, 60, of Springfield, Missouri, was camping alone at Sam’s Throne.
On Sept. 30, he texted family a photo of a small bear in his camp. After losing contact, relatives requested a welfare check from the authorities. A deputy found evidence of a struggle and Thomas’s body on Oct. 2.
Initial hunt and mistaken identity
Cameras captured a bear near the site that resembled the one Thomas photographed and sent to his family.
A team later located and killed a yearling weighing an estimated 150–175 pounds. Newton County’s sheriff initially voiced strong confidence it was the same animal but DNA confirmation said otherwise.
Closures, traps and ongoing search
AGFC has maintained traps and game cameras in the area, reporting only one bear on camera and no captures to date.
Sam’s Throne Campground and adjacent public areas remain closed while monitoring and search efforts continue tirelessly.
Earlier fatal mauling in 2025
The Newton County case is Arkansas’s second deadly bear attack this year. An alarming rise in bear attacks.
In September, a Franklin County man died after a black bear attack; that bear, killed by law and enforcement officers.
Later the Bear tested negative for rabies and distemper but was malnourished and showed neurological abnormalities, according to AGFC.
Safety guidance for forest visitors
Store food, trash and scented items in bear resistant containers or a hard sided vehicle, never leave food unattended, and report bold or aggressive bear behaviour to AGFC at 833-356-0824.
Authorities urge the public to respect current area closures until further notice.
