JASPER, Ark. – DNA testing has exonerated a black bear euthanized by wildlife officials following a fatal attack on a Missouri camper at Sam’s Throne Campground, as authorities intensify efforts to locate the actual animal responsible.
Max Thomas, a 60-year-old resident of Springfield, Missouri, was discovered deceased on Oct. 2 in the Ozark National Forest area of Newton County. Newton County sheriff’s deputies conducted a welfare check at the remote campground after Thomas’ family reported he had not contacted them for several days. Investigators found signs of a struggle at his campsite and his body about 60 feet away, with evidence pointing to a bear attack.
Photos taken by Thomas shortly before the incident, along with campground surveillance images, captured a bear approaching dangerously close to his tent, including one inside the cot where he slept. Based on these visuals and the bear’s proximity to the site, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission targeted and killed a similar-looking adult male bear just days later on Oct. 4.
However, forensic analysis conducted by the University of Florida’s Veterinary Forensic Science Laboratory revealed no match between DNA samples collected from Thomas’ injuries and those from the euthanized bear. The bear that was killed shared comparable age and facial markings with the one in the photos and was the only animal detected on trail cameras set up in the area since the attack.
“We acted decisively based on the best evidence available at the time, and now that we have definitive forensic data, we are adjusting our strategy,” said AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock. “Our teams will continue to work tirelessly to find the bear.”
The Sam’s Throne Campground remains closed to visitors through at least the end of October while AGFC maintains traps—recently rebaited—and multiple cameras to capture or photograph any returning bears. So far, no other bears have appeared on the surveillance, which officials described as unusual.
AGFC Communications Chief Keith Stephens noted the challenges: “We’ve had cameras and traps out there since a couple days after the attack. The only bear we’ve caught on the cameras was the one we harvested. But we’re going to leave them out there at least through the end of the month and see if we can’t trap one or get a photo of one.”
This incident marks the second fatal bear attack in Arkansas in 2025, following another earlier in the year. Stephens called the occurrences “astronomical” in rarity, emphasizing the need for public vigilance. Officials advise campers to practice “bear aware” habits: store food securely, make noise while hiking, and if encountering a bear, back away slowly while creating loud distractions like banging pots or throwing rocks to deter it.
The investigation into Thomas’ death continues, with AGFC urging anyone spotting aggressive bear behavior to contact them immediately at 1-800-364-4261.
