Fulton body encased in concrete

Police say body likely that of missing man

According to search coordinator Kimmy Bodle, the Fulton Police Department was at Moore EZ Storage in Fulton when they uncovered a concrete-filled container holding what later was proven to be Carl DeBrodie's body.
According to search coordinator Kimmy Bodle, the Fulton Police Department was at Moore EZ Storage in Fulton when they uncovered a concrete-filled container holding what later was proven to be Carl DeBrodie's body.

A body believed to be missing man Carl DeBrodie was recovered from a storage unit a quarter-mile away from the Fulton Police Department on Monday afternoon, Sgt. Bill Ladwig confirmed.

Police said the body was wrapped in plastic and entombed in a concrete-filled trash container, which was inside a wooden crate.

"The medical examiner's office will determine (the body's identity), as well as the cause," Police Chief Steve Myers said Tuesday afternoon.

The medical examiner's report was unavailable, but Myers said there weren't any immediately obvious signs of foul play on the body.

Ladwig said the team of investigators assigned to the case executed more than a dozen search warrants in Fulton and Columbia.

A group of searchers, including members of DeBrodie's family, were near Moore EZ Storage on Monday evening when police found the body. "We came upon some police working on a storage unit who asked us to leave the premises and told us the area was closed for the night," search organizer Kimmy Bodle said.

Later Myers informed the searchers and members of DeBrodie's family a body likely to be DeBrodie's had been found. Bodle cancelled the rest of the planned searches.

"It was determined that it was likely the body of Carl DeBrodie was inside this container," Ladwig said. "(The body) was somewhat decomposed."

Myers said the body's clothing was not identifiable.

DeBrodie, 31, was initially reported missing April 17. A developmentally disabled man, he lived at a supported living facility which was then managed by Second Chance Homes of Fulton, LLC.

On the day he was reported missing, management of the facility transferred to Finck & Associates.

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Special to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette - 11/22/2013 - Aubrey Harwell

"Finck & Associates were not involved in DeBrodie's care at the time he went missing and have been extremely cooperative with our investigation," Ladwig said.

In fact, it is possible DeBrodie was missing long before his disappearance was reported to police, he said.

"During the course of the investigation that day, additional information was developed that led officers to believe that DeBrodie had been possibly missing for an extended period of time," Ladwig said.

Both officers said there is a long way to go in the investigation.

"We're going to continue following leads, gathering our evidence," Myers said.

He added he does not believe whoever is responsible for DeBrodie's death is likely to strike again.

"I think people should lock their doors anyway," he said.

DeBrodie's aunt Carol Samson said the search's ending doesn't surprise her, though it was hard to hear.

"I don't think it's time for questions yet," she said while extending thanks to all the officers and members of law enforcement who engaged in the investigation, as well as the host of people who volunteered to search for DeBrodie.

"They took time out of their lives for someone they didn't even know," Samson said. "There are no words to say how much we appreciate this."

Samson and Shellea Young - who alongside Bodle organized the volunteer searchers - are planning a candlelight vigil May 2 at Memorial Park.

"All the searching people and whoever wants to come who helped in anyway are welcome," Samson said.

Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m., and the vigil will begin at 8 p.m.

Samson said she wants people to remember DeBrodie as cheerful.

"He was a good kid, a happy kid, from what I remember," Samson said. "He didn't deserve this."