Homicide victim still mystery to neighbors

A recreational vehicle modified into a mobile home at 1673 County Road 340 near Millersburg is the scene where 54-year-old Deborah A. Bates was found murdered Thursday evening. She was living with Bryan Wiser, who neighbors say has lived at the location for more than 10 years.
A recreational vehicle modified into a mobile home at 1673 County Road 340 near Millersburg is the scene where 54-year-old Deborah A. Bates was found murdered Thursday evening. She was living with Bryan Wiser, who neighbors say has lived at the location for more than 10 years.

Neighbors report they rarely saw 56-year-old Deborah A. Bates of the Millersburg area who was found murdered at a home near Millersburg Thursday.

Some neighbors were not even aware that she lived with Bryan Wiser at his residence in the 1600 block of County Road 340 near Millersburg.

The Callaway County Sheriff's Office issued a statement saying Bates had lived at the address for about the last six years.

Tom Sloat, who lives with his wife on County Road 340 next to the murder victim's home, said he heard nothing the day of the murder on Thursday.

Sloat said he moved into a mobile home next to Wiser's home about a month ago.

"I didn't even know there was a lady over there next door," he said.

Sloat said he and his wife heard nothing unusual at any time Thursday next door where the murder occurred. "It was a shock to us Friday when investigators came out and told us about it," Sloat said.

Arthur Welsh, who lives on County Road 340 near Wiser's home, said he had heard a woman was living with Wiser "but I never saw her. My wife said she saw her a couple of times but I never saw her."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.