LITTLE ROCK — A body found in a wooded area outside of Little Rock earlier this month has been identified as a man who has been missing since September.
Authorities say the State Crime Laboratory on Monday identified the body as that of 70-year-old Charlie Hardin, who was reported missing Sept. 25. Hardin's body was found Nov. 8 in woods off the 1500 block of Woodyard Road.
The death has been ruled a homicide.
Hardin is the father of 31-year-old Opio Hardin, who was driving his father's truck when he was arrested Oct. 5 in the death of 37-year-old Torence Nelson. Nelson was fatally shot at 4717 W. 22nd St.
Little Rock Police Department spokesman Sgt. Cassandra Davis said Opio Hardin is not "officially" a suspect in his father's death.
"But we will be talking to him in reference to this," she said.