MOUNTAIN HOME -- Authorities found the body of a man floating in Lake Norfork on Friday morning and are investigating the death, Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery said.
Deputies and emergency personnel recovered the body of Samuel A. Balsano Jr., of Gamaliel at about 8:15 a.m. Friday near Point 6B, where Bennett's River empties into Lake Norfork. A fisherman spotted the body, with a life jacket attached, at 6:30 a.m. and called police, Montgomery said.
Family members told deputies Balsano left his home at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to go fishing. Witnesses saw Balsano leave the Fout Boat Dock between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. in a 1976 Hydrasport boat. Deputies continued to search for the boat Friday afternoon, the sheriff said.
Montgomery said there were no signs of trauma to Balsano's body and that he had some "health issues."
Authorities sent Balsano's body to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for an autopsy.
State Desk on 08/13/2016