The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) confirmed Thursday morning that the body of 63-year-old Ricky Wooten, who went missing during a fishing trip at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, has been recovered from the Arkansas River.
According to JCSO, the agency’s Marine Patrol responded just after dusk Wednesday evening following a missing person report. Wooten had checked in earlier that morning at the Arsenal’s Plain View Gate with his truck and boat to fish.
When investigators arrived, they found Wooten’s truck parked at the Arkansas River Access boat ramp with the trailer still attached. His boat — containing freshly caught fish — was discovered a short distance from the dock, but there was no sign of Wooten.
Overnight, multiple boats equipped with side-scan sonar and live-scope underwater camera systems were deployed as part of coordinated rescue and recovery efforts. Using live-scope technology, teams located Wooten’s body at approximately 7:59 a.m. Thursday. His body was recovered and transported to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, and next of kin have been notified.
Preliminary findings suggest Wooten may have suffered a medical emergency or lost his footing while attempting to dock his boat. Out of caution, JCSO has requested a full autopsy through the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine the official cause and manner of death.
“On behalf of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, I extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Ricky Wooten,” said Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr. “Our deputies, investigators, and Arsenal personnel worked with professionalism and urgency, employing advanced sonar and live-scope technology to bring Mr. Wooten home. I am proud of their disciplined response and grateful for the teamwork shown throughout this difficult recovery. We ask our community to keep the Wooten family in your thoughts and to respect their privacy during this time.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional updates will be released following the medical examiner’s report.
