Monroe County sheriff says Faulkner died from self-inflicted wound
Search ends for Faulkner
The seven-day search for a missing Conecuh County man came to a sad end Monday morning when his remains were recovered from the Alabama River at Claiborne.
According to Monroe County Sheriff Tom Boatwright, searchers found the body of John Derek Faulkner Sunday around 9:30 a.m. near the Claiborne-Murphy Bridge. Faulkner, a 40-year-old Evergreen resident, was reported missing Monday of last week by the Conecuh County Sheriff's Department.
Conecuh County investigators said that they'd "pinged" Faulkner's cellphone Monday of last week at a location near the Alabama River at Claiborne and requested that the Monroe County Sheriff's Department check the area. Monroe County deputies went to Claiborne and found Faulkner's abandoned Chevrolet Silverado truck near the river, Boatwright said. Deputies also found many of Faulkner's personal items inside the truck.
Deputies called Alabama Department of Corrections tracking dogs to the scene, and when they arrived, the dogs tracked Faulkner's scent straight to the river bank.
"His trailed ended right at the river," Boatwright said.
The Monroe County Rescue Squad was called to the scene, and helicopters with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency were also called to assist in the search for Faulkner. As the search progressed, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson Rescue Squad and the Conecuh County Rescue Squad were called in to assist. A number of volunteer firefighters also assisted in the search, including firefighters from Monroeville, Frisco City and Goodway.
Monroe County Rescue Squad Capt. Woodie Reed said that Faulkner's remains were found about 20 yards from where Faulkner entered the river. The Alabama River, south of the Claiborne Lock & Dam, was well over flood stage when Faulkner went missing, and rescuers believe he became entangled in trees and branches that were submerged beneath the water.
"The river's water level dropped on Saturday night and when we resumed the search at daylight Sunday, we found him floating not far from where he went into the river," Reed said.
Boatwright said that Faulkner apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and no foul play is suspected in the incident. Faulkner's body was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Mobile for a full autopsy and the results of that autopsy were unavailable before press time.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Mr. Faulkner as they navigate this tragic loss," Boatwright said.
Boatwright thanked everyone involved in the search for Faulkner, saying that their "diligent efforts brought closure to his family during this difficult time."
