Foul play not suspected in death of retired Bluff businessman

Daily American Republic

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. --Authorities are investigating the death of a retired Poplar Bluff businessman who was found lying in the roadway near his home early Wednesday morning.

The man was identified as Charles Lee "Charlie" Osborn, 62, of the 2000 block of Holloway Drive, said Butler County Coroner Larry Cotrell.

Osborn formerly owned Mo-Ark Provision Inc. and Charlie's Warehouse Foods.

"At this point, we expect his cause of death is going to be physically related to the medical problems he has," Cotrell said.

Cotress said the coroner's office would X-ray the body, but that it's possible Osborn, who was shirtless and not wearing shoes, may have fallen while walking down the hill from his residence, Cotrell said.

Osborn had what Cotrell described as a "slight abrasion" on his right shoulder. It is believed Osborn received it "from his fall," he said.

The initial call to the Poplar Bluff Police Department reported that a motorist had found a body lying in the westbound lane of Holloway Drive in the Bluff Estates Subdivision at about 6 a.m., according to police Capt. Dennis Long.

Long said officers and emergency personnel arrived to find the victim, and the area was treated as a crime scene until police were able to determine the circumstances.

Additional officers were stationed at the subdivision entrance on Sunset Drive. They were stopping exiting vehicles and asking everyone if they had seen anything unusual.

Also responding to the scene were members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's crash team, whose members specialize in accident reconstructions.

When patrol crash team members Sgt. Mitch Heath and Cpl. Kevin Malugen, arrived at about 7:30 a.m., they met with the local officers and then began their own investigation.

Long said the patrol team was brought in to rule out the possibility of a hit-and-run accident. As the investigation has progressed, he said, it appeared Osborn's injuries weren't consistent with a hit-and-run, nor were there signs of foul play.

Osborn's body was taken to Three Rivers Healthcare-North Campus where it was to be examined and X-rays done.

Long said the X-rays were being done to check for any broken bones.

At that point, Long said, they are not "ruling anything out. The investigation will continue until we are completely satisfied we know what happened" and the exact cause of death is determined.

Cotrell agreed.

"We won't close this until we have reviewed all the evidence," Cotrell said.