Body found at homeless camp on UA property in Fayetteville

A 31-acre lot on the south east corner of 19th Street and College Avenue in Fayetteville is for sale by the University of Arkansas.
A 31-acre lot on the south east corner of 19th Street and College Avenue in Fayetteville is for sale by the University of Arkansas.

FAYETTEVILLE -- For the second time this year, a body has been found in a makeshift homeless encampment on University of Arkansas land where "no trespassing" signs will soon be posted, university officials said.

University police said they found no signs of foul play in the death of a 45-year-old homeless woman discovered in a tent early Sunday. An autopsy has been ordered, said Capt. Gary Crain, a police spokesman. Police are withholding the woman's name pending notification of her family.

On Jan. 10, a badly burned body was found at the site. The investigation into the death of John Widdoes Jr., 52, remains open as police await a medical examiner's report on the cause of the man's death, Crain said.

The university purchased the undeveloped land -- roughly 1.3 miles southeast of a sign for the main campus -- while considering expansion of the nearby Arkansas Research and Technology Park, a UA spokesman has said.

But a sign now advertises 31 acres for sale and lists a university phone number. The makeshift homeless encampment is on land north of West 19th Street and east of South School Avenue, a site next to the city's Town Branch Trail.

"Our focus is on the safety of our community, especially our students, UAPD officers and others who use the nearby trails recreationally," said Mike Johnson, UA's associate vice chancellor for facilities.

The trail opened in September 2014. City data show an average of 166 people per day using the trail in August, according to Matt Mihalevich, the city's trails coordinator.

Johnson said UA is "working to communicate property boundaries with the homeless population and is in the process of placing 'no trespassing' signs on the property."

Crain said in an email "the idea is to communicate property boundaries not so much to make arrests for trespassing." He said for the homeless population, "no one is suggesting jail as a viable alternative."

The 7 Hills Homeless Center, near the UA land, provides showers, food and case management services for the area's growing homeless population.

A University of Arkansas researcher, Kevin Fitzpatrick, this year estimated a homeless population of 2,951 in Washington and Benton counties, according to the university. The total is about 2.5 times the estimate 10 years ago.

One homeless man, Richard Gram, 55, said police went by the 7 Hills about three weeks ago to tell campers to stay away from the trail. "If you're not gone, we're going to start giving you tickets," Gram recalled police saying.

Crain said as people move their camps, "signs will probably go up in the vacated areas."

Johnson said the university is working with those camping in the area and "we hope they will make the decision to relocate for their own personal safety and access to appropriate services."

"The majority are law-abiding folks, so if we let them know that this is private property, state property, then they won't camp on it. It's as simple as that," Johnson said later.

Johnson said police have been talking with campers. As far as signs with a "no trespassing" message, Johnson said they are being made but so far haven't been posted.

He said the university is working with the city and nonprofit organizations on ways to address the needs of the homeless.

"Nobody wants to put them out on the street. Nobody wants to lock them up," Johnson said.

Charlie Birchfield, 51, an acquaintance of the woman found dead, received hugs and condolences Monday at the 7 Hills center.

"I gave her a cheap-ass ring. She always wore it on her finger," said the man, puffy-eyed, describing the woman as someone who loved animals and "who loved me more than she should have, I guess."

"She just loved everybody. She loved everybody," he said, clutching a paper cup filled with coffee.

UA purchased the 31 acres in 2003, plus an adjacent 25-acre lot in 2012, a university spokesman said, with both lots now for sale. The technology park, which supports emerging companies, is nearby but to the west of South School Avenue.

NW News on 04/11/2017

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