Name of man found dead near trail released

FAYETTEVILLE — Police released the name of a man found dead in a trailside creek in the south part of town.

Wesley Hunt, 43, of Fayetteville was found dead Saturday off Town Branch Trail near South School Avenue, south of 15th Street. A woman on the trail called police about 4:15 p.m. after finding Hunt’s body, Sgt. Anthony Murphy said.

There were no obvious signs of trauma, Murphy said.

Hunt had been a client at 7 Hills Homeless Center, said Solomon Burchfield, director of operations. People who knew him said Hunt had a reputation for being respectful, quiet and kind.

Clients at the center have started talking about holding a vigil for Hunt, Burchfield said.

“That just goes to show a lot of people cared about him,” he said.

Homeless residents are the most vulnerable in a community, Burchfield said. Those who live in camps often have serious health, addiction or mental health issues that go without regular treatment, he said.

“This reminds me we have so much more to do,” Burchfield said.

That part of town, particularly on or near land owned by the University of Arkansas that sits next to 7 Hills, has seen a concentration of homeless encampments in recent years. Reports of deaths in the area have become far too commonplace, Burchfield said.

Hunt’s body has been sent to the state crime laboratory in Little Rock to determine a cause of death.