Arrest made in case of missing Cherokee man

The Crawford County Sheriff's Office arrested a man Wednesday for the murder of a missing man from Cherokee.

According to Crawford County Sheriff Sandy Horton, Duane E. Wahl, of Mulberry, was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and charged with murder in the first degree of Cherokee resident Richard Davis.

Horton said Wahl was currently has been held in the Crawford County Jail since Oct. 31 for violation of a Protection from Abuse Order and Mulberry Municipal Court charges.

"This has been a very intense and ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Mr. Davis and investigators believed from the beginning of this case that foul play was involved," Horton said in a statement released Thursday morning. "Though information revealed during the investigation and DNA evidence results obtained late (Wednesday) afternoon Wahl was arrested on probable cause for the murder of Davis."

Investigation into the murder also determined that Wahl was allegedly responsible for a burglary and two thefts on Oct. 27, two days prior to Davis' disappearance. Horton said a shop owned by Wahl's stepfather Donald Buckley was broken into where a VCR/DVD combo, valued at $150, was stolen. Wahl was also accused for the theft of a cell phone, valued at $50, from former co-worker Randel Thomas at Watco in rural Pittsburg.

Wahl was charged for the crimes by the Crawford County Attorney.