In the crisp autumn air of November 11, 2018, the life of Charles Thomas Bark, a 70-year-old male from Marengo, Illinois, was tragically cut short in a hunting accident near Atlanta, Missouri. An avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing, Bark was preparing for a day of deer hunting with companions during the opening weekend of Missouri's firearms season.
The group was at a hunting cabin in the vicinity of State Highway J and State Highway 3 when the fatal incident
occurred. At approximately 3:15 p.m., as the hunters were getting their gear ready, a rifle belonging to another member of the party accidentally discharged. The bullet struck Bark, inflicting a mortal wound.
Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, but despite their efforts, Charles Thomas Bark was pronounced dead at the location by the Macon County Coroner. The Macon County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation into the shooting. Based on their findings, authorities determined that the death was the result of a tragic accident. Consequently, no arrests were made, and no suspects were named in connection with the incident, as the investigation concluded that there was no criminal intent. His death was one of three hunting-related fatalities to occur during that opening weekend of the deer hunting season in Missouri.
