On Saturday, May 12, 1991, Carroll County police officials discovered the body of a Fayetteville man floating in Beaver Lake.
The dead, eventually identified as Evan Andrew Stirewalt, 29, had been missing since May 6. Authorities determined that his body had been in the water for at least 72 hours.
Carroll County Sheriff Lonnie Nichols told the press that the corpse was discovered near Hig Scald Hollow on Beaver Lake by two Rogers anglers. The body was floating face down, fully dressed, some 150 yards from shore.
When the body was discovered, police stated a plastic bag was over Stirewalt's head, and an autopsy at the State Crime Laboratory revealed that he died from four gunshot wounds to the head. Stirewalt. who was a native of Joplin, was identified via fingerprint comparisons at the State Crime Laboratory.
According to family members, Evan left home on May 6th to go to the bank before heading to work. He didn't return home that night, and his wife reported him missing. Initially, authorities did not appear to take her seriously.
Over the years, suspects have emerged, and officials believe they know who committed the crime. However, the homicide has not been solved and noi arrests have been made, despite the family employing a private investigator to try to piece together evidence of the crime.
According to online sources, Carroll County officials do not consider the case closed, but have confessed that the probe is on the "back burner".
Anyone who might information on this cold case is asked to Call the Carroll County Sheriff's Office in Berryville at (870) 423-2901.
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