SILOAM SPRINGS — Dustin Chamberlain came home early from Baylor University for minor surgery, said his uncle, Dave Chamberlain.
On Thursday, Dustin Chamberlain, 20, was dead from a gunshot wound inflicted by a man who was despondent over financial problems, authorities said.
Dustin Chamberlain was at his parents’ home at 13751 Siloam City Lake Road when authorities said he was apparently surprised by Michael Meeks, 49, who had entered the house.
Meeks, who lived nearby, then turned a gun on himself, according to Capt. Mike Sydoriak, commander of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Chamberlain died at home. Meeks died at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital, authorities said.
Chamberlain’s mother and sister left the house about 7:40 a.m., Sydoriak said. “(His mother) kept calling Dustin, couldn’t reach him and asked his dad to check on him. Don (Chamberlain) and Pete Allen entered the house, found Dustin and called 911 at 11:40 a.m.”
The modern, two-story house overlooks Siloam Springs City Lake but is fairly isolated on a dirt road. Christmas wreaths hung in the home’s windows.
Don Chamberlain, Dustin’s father, manages Flint Creek Cattle Co. for Pete Allen, according to relatives.
“Pete Allen followed a blood trail into the living room and foundMeeks,” Sydoriak said. “A deputy arrived and was able to get a gun away from Meeks.”
Dustin Chamberlain left college early for the holidays to have minor surgery on his finger, according to Dave Chamberlain.
Dave Chamberlain waited patiently in his pickup Thursday, watching deputies process the crime scene at his brother’s home.
“Dustin had gone to Baylor for three semesters,” Dave Chamberlain said. “He’d just looked up his grades on the computer. He had a 4.0 (grade point average). He wanted to be a doctor. He was a dedicated kid.” Sydoriak said it is unlikely anyone will know for sure how or why Meeks wandered into the Chamberlain household and shot the young man.
“There was no sign of forced entry, but the back door was open,” Sydoriak said. “I think he probably went in there just to get warm or maybe something to eat. Maybe the boy surprised him.” Meeks was reported as a missing person Wednesday night, and was “possibly suicidal,” Sydoriak said.
“Meeks was having some money problems,” Sydoriak said. “He’d lost his job and was about to lose his house.”
Meeks lived on Taylor Orchard Road, Sydoriak said, and his family thought he had spent the night in the woods.
“He lived just on the other side of the woods from the Chamberlain house,” Sydoriak said. “He’d last been seen between 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday when he’d left his house with a .22-caliber rifle.”
Sydoriak said deputies found Meeks’ rifle on a counter in the Chamberlain home. A .22-caliber pistol and .40-caliber Glock belonging to Don Chamberlain were found near Meeks.
Dave Chamberlain, who lives in Maysville, said his brother was struggling to understand the randomness of the incident.
“He’s taking it about likeyou’d expect,” Dave Chamberlain said. “They were close. He thought the sun rose and set in those kids.” Meeks had no criminal history By Amye Buckley [email protected]
GENTRY - The man authorities believe shot and killed Dustin Chamberlain Thursday had no criminal history, authorities said Friday.
Chamberlain, 20, was found dead at 12751 Siloam City Lake Road in his family’s home. Michael Meeks, 49, was found wounded in the house and later died at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital, said Capt. Mike Sydoriak of the Benton County Sheriff ’s Office.
Authorities believe Chamberlain confronted Meeks and Meeks shot the young man. Meeks’ family reported him missing Wednesday night and described him as possibly suicidal, authorities said.
Don Chamberlain went home to check on him and found his son in an entry area between the garage and a mudroom and called paramedics, said Sydoriak. Don Chamberlain also called his brother, Dave Chamberlain, and Pete Allen. When they arrived, they followed a blood trail to a living room chair where Meeks sat with a gunshot to the head, Sydoriak said.
“They thought he was dead at first, until they went to take the gun out of his hand, and then he gasped,” Sydoriak said.
The men backed out of the room and waited with paramedics until a deputyarrived. The initial 911 call was at 11:20 a.m., and a deputy was on scene by 11:39 a.m., Sydoriak said.
Meeks’ family last saw him between 9 and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, and police around the area were asked to be on the lookout for him. The advisory, issued early Thursday, said he could have been armed with a .22-caliber rifle.
Although there was no sign of forced entry, the back door of the Chamberlain home was open.
Sydoriak said some things in the house appeared to have been disturbed, although he provided no specifics.
Meeks lost his job at McKee Foods in Gentry in February, Sydoriak said. His family said Meeks was despondent about financial problems.
A message left with McKee Foods asking about Meeks’ employment was not returned Friday.
The neighborhood is quiet, said John Burger, who has lived on Taylor Orchard Road for 12 years. Meeks’ property is around the corner from Burger’s.
“This is unexpected,” Burger said.
Neighbors wave to each other when they pass, and Burger did not recall any disturbances in the area.
“It’s a good neighborhood to live in, and I don’t think this is going to change that,” Burger said.
The bodies of Chamberlain and Meeks were sent to the state medical examiner for autopsy.
“It’s just a terrible tragedy,” Sydoriak said. “We hope, once we get the medical exam back, we can close this case as quickly as possible.”
News, Pages 1 on 12/21/2011