On April 22, 2024, the body of 22-year-old DeAndre "Desmond" Clark was discovered behind an abandoned business on Batcave Road in Old Fort, North Carolina. Clark, a resident of Asheville, had been reported missing by his mother on April 19 after last being seen on April 18 around 3 p.m. at the Hillcrest Apartments.
An autopsy conducted by the McDowell County Medical Examiner's Office determined that Clark died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
A suicide note was found at the scene; however, his vehicle and firearm were initially unaccounted for.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of 48-year-old Scotty Keith Styles. On April 23, officers from the Black Mountain Police Department observed Styles operating Clark's vehicle. He was arrested and charged with felonious larceny and breaking or entering a motor vehicle.
Further evidence uncovered during the investigation resulted in additional charges against Styles, including felonious concealment or failure to report a death, felonious larceny of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and three counts of financial card theft. Authorities allege that Styles discovered Clark's body and proceeded to steal various items, including his wallet, handgun, credit cards, and vehicle.
The McDowell County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, concluded that Clark's death was a suicide. The charges against Styles pertain to his actions following the discovery of Clark's body, particularly the theft of Clark's belongings and failure to report the death to authorities.
