Arkansas Weatherman Wakes Up in Bathtub With Corpse
EmailAn Arkansas weatherman woke up in a bathtub with a dead body this week after an evening of alcohol and drugs, according to a police report. The meteorologist’s friend Dexter Williams, 24, was found dead, wearing nothing but a dog collar.
Brett Cummins, 33, is a meteorologist for KARK, the NBC affiliate in Little Rock, Ark. On Sunday, Cummins’ friend Christopher Barbour, 36, invited Cummins to his house in Maumelle. Cummins arrived at 8 p.m. with his friend Williams.
According to a police report Barbour said the trio “began to drink and use illegal narcotics.”
“Mr. Barbour stated that he was not sure of the drugs that they were using but that they were snorting them,” Officer Gergory Roussie wrote in his report of the scene. He also said that they consumed alcohol in a hot tub.
Barbour said that around 11 p.m., he left the other two men in the jacuzzi and went to sleep on the couch. When he woke up at 8 a.m. the next morning, he found his bed still made and the two men in a bathtub with no water in it. Barbour began to clean up glassware from the previous night and woke Cummins up.
They quickly realized that Williams was unconscious and looked discolored. “Brett screamed and became ill and left the bathroom and vomited on the carpet in the living room,” Roussie wrote in the police report. Cummins left the house but eventually came back to give a police statement.
The men called the police, who arrived shortly after. Officer Roussie entered the bathroom and saw a naked, white male in the bathtub.
“The subject was lying on his right side in a fetal position, his face was blue and purple in color with a chain around his neck,” Roussie wrote. He also wrote that he believed the chain was a dog collar and that he “observed a small ring of blood around the bottom of the tub.”
Neighbors noticed the party on Sunday night but were shocked to hear about the mysterious death.
“We were a little bit concerned yesterday when we saw all the commotion up here,” neighbor Kay Jenkins told ABC’s Little Rock affiliate KATV. “I would’ve never suspected anything like that to take place.”
Neither Cummins nor Barbour could be reached for comment. Cummins’ station, KARK, reported on the story and included a few lines about the involvement of their meteorologist.
“Our Meteorologist Brett Cummins was at the home at the time of the death and we felt we should share this with our viewers,” KARK wrote in its report of the incident. “Brett will not be on the air as he is mourning the loss of his friend. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Dexter Williams.”
The Maumelle Police Department is investigating the incident as a “sudden death” and awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology report. No charges have been filed and no one is in police custody.
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Sounds like an episode of CSI….
Posted by: Allen | September 7, 2011, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
A little too much under the weather it seems…Should had checked a little more on the drugs.
Posted by: halo | September 7, 2011, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm
Yikes! How are they going to explain this to the viewers, if he ever gets back on the air?
Posted by: Danny | September 7, 2011, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
See what drugs can do to you.
Posted by: Danny | September 7, 2011, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
Do a search on youtube for “Brett Cummins wigging out.” KARK has know about his drug use for a while, but they did a good job of keeping the camera off of him when he was coked up.
Posted by: Michael | September 7, 2011, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
“…his face was blue and purple in color with a chain around his neck,” Roussie wrote. He also wrote that he believed the chain was a dog collar and that he “observed a small ring of blood around the bottom of the tub.”….naked with a chain around his neck…face blue and purple…blood in the bottom of the tub?? Sure begs the question as to what went on… What moronic behavior.
Posted by: tiredofcriminals | September 7, 2011, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
These are the kind of people that keep the drug cartels from Mexico keep on, keepin on, No wonder this country is going down the tubes with such idiots as these guys.
Posted by: mamatrain | September 7, 2011, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
Deadly behavior. Who are these people? Sexual practices? Doggie’s doing it? All three should spend time in rehab. Look what drugs and alcohol can do for you! Very sick men?
Posted by: Virginia Nordin | September 7, 2011, 11:00 pm 11:00 pm
Sounds like the sequel to The Hangover II…..
Posted by: Lina | September 7, 2011, 11:08 pm 11:08 pm
Well its happened to all of us at one time or another.
Posted by: Robobobo | September 7, 2011, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub…..
Posted by: mona | September 8, 2011, 12:54 am 12:54 am
What do you mean “well, its happened to all of us at one time or another.” ? I beg to differ with you, nothing even remotely similar has ever happened to me!!!! I have never taken any drugs, not even marijuana, don’t get drunk and don’t party….Am sure I’m not the only one although I may be in a minority group….
Posted by: Nancy | September 8, 2011, 1:44 am 1:44 am
He may as well be looking for another job in another state. If he had woke up next to a goat the hillbillies in Arkansas would have laughed it off. Louder if it was an ugly goat. Wake up next to a guy? Especially a guy wearing nothing but a dog collar? Hope he didn’t like Arkansas too much, he’s gone.
Posted by: oonogil | September 8, 2011, 2:17 am 2:17 am
Poor Nancy. You don’t get out much, do you? Humor is wasted on you.
Posted by: ElrodFL | September 8, 2011, 5:22 am 5:22 am
I went to school with Brett. He is deeply a good person. People need to lay off of his personal life. Seriously, love his weather reports? That is all you should be concerned about.
Posted by: Kristy | September 8, 2011, 7:35 am 7:35 am
People, a man is dead here. Not an appropriate time for jokes…..
Posted by: Searambler | September 8, 2011, 8:15 am 8:15 am
Sick! Apparently, they were doing things they should not have been doing. Naked, wearing a dog collar? Sick. Lord only knows what went on that night! Sick!
Posted by: carole | September 8, 2011, 9:38 am 9:38 am
This is truly sad. I suspect that in the near future he might be mourning the loss of his job as well as his friend.
Posted by: howdymo1 | September 8, 2011, 10:00 am 10:00 am
I know Brett personally. I’ve known him for years. He was one of the most respected and brilliant forecasters and meteorologists in our program at Mississippi State. I won’t condone rampant and reckless drug use, but just because Brett is on TV, people have this ludicrous assumption that’s he not as human as the rest of us! Well, he is! He makes the same mistakes and downfalls as every other person on this planet. People seem to forget a poor, young man is dead and gone. All they can focus on is he was naked with a dog collar. How trivial you’ve made Dexter’s life. If any of us had awakened with a corpse leaning on us, I think we’d all become scared and sick. What makes Brett different? It could have happened to a straight person just as easily. Leave him alone so he can go on with his life!
Posted by: Jeff | September 8, 2011, 10:11 am 10:11 am
why is this even news
Posted by: smoochie | September 8, 2011, 10:16 am 10:16 am
OONOGIL: just out of curiosity where are you from? You know you probably are right about the “hillbillies” in Arkansas, WE probably would have laughed about that,,but this is a another human being and we’re not laughing. We find no humor in this at all. Have you ever visited Arkansas, have you actually been anywhere outside your box? If you should get out into the world anytime in your lifetime, please take note that people everywhere are basically the same, maybe different cultures, but basically the same. I am pround to be from Arkansas,, I have not been fortunate to live the “hillbilly” lifestyle, but I do appreciate the ease and friendliness of these so called “hillbillies”. Arkansas is known as “The Natural State”,, naturally friendly, beautiful and obiviously naturally classy,, if not I would be making stupid jokes about your posted name. Come visit Arkansas, you may be surprised how we hillbillies really live, probably not though, it’s really no different than anywhere else, just maybe with a little more class.
Posted by: Sherry | September 8, 2011, 10:41 am 10:41 am
There are many things that young men can do in their free time — such as visiting their elderly parents, helping neighbors, doing volunteer work for the community, etc. Don’t have to drinking alcohol, taking drugs, and dying in the bathtub.
Posted by: Thersa Y | September 8, 2011, 10:47 am 10:47 am
@Sherry — you’re obviously not familiar with OONOGIL and his posts. From what I’ve read from him over the last year, he appears to be compassionate, level-headed and fully aware of different cultures. You’re offended at his referring to hillbillies in Arkansas, I can appreciate that. I get my shorts in a twist when Southerners are the target of stereotyping and ignorant assumptions. I’m fairly sure he’ll set things straight, if he saw your post.
Posted by: wildblueyondergoAF | September 8, 2011, 10:57 am 10:57 am
@Jeff — I can’t speak for others, but the circumstances of Dexter’s passing are not ordinary, and the unfortunate placement of your friend with him in the tub creates one hellova tainted mystery. I’m sorry for the guy’s death. I don’t care one wit about Brett’s sexual orientation — although folks are now speculating b/c of this event — but his reputation and emotional health are now suspect due to the drug use. His choices, his losses.
Posted by: wildblueyondergoAF | September 8, 2011, 11:03 am 11:03 am
“All three should spend time in rehab.” ~~~~~Kinda hard to do when one is dead, don’t you think?
Posted by: Mike | September 8, 2011, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Cummins forecast was correct: Heavy golden showers followed by snow with a possible chance of decay
Posted by: bubba77074 | September 8, 2011, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Rub a dub dub, 3 men in a tub
Posted by: IHOPness | September 8, 2011, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Yes, I wonder too why this is news outside of Arkansas. But that’s beside the point. Brett is a talented meteorologist and he does good on-air work. What he does off the air is his business. Sadly, he erred in judgment, but many of us do, but as some posts mentioned, we can’t forget that the story involves a dead man. As for the “hillbilly” stereotype about Arkansas, I think it’s outdated. I didn’t grow up here but I’ve lived here long enough to realize that there are some classy people here, and the ones who live in rural areas enjoy a peaceful lifestyle. That’s nothing to mock. I’ve lived in more urban areas on both coasts and yet there’s something to be said about a lifestyle that’s got mountains, lakes, clean air and no hustle and bustle.
Posted by: JustMeIntheRock | September 8, 2011, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm
there seems to be some lies told in this story. 1st of all mr. barbour says they started snorting ” unknown ” narcotics at 8 pm . that is BS , he knows exactly what they were snorting . 2nd mr. barbour says that he left the other 2 guys alone at 11 pm and went to sleep ……. that too is also BS !!!! anyone who knows anything about drugs you snort knows that the 3 of them were most likely snorting some type of ” speed ” ( cocaine , meth , ect. ) which prevents you from sleeping or passing out especially when you just started 3 hours ago .. mr. barbour seems to be trying to exclude himself somehow . I personally think that things happened a little differently
Posted by: edgar noble | September 8, 2011, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
Sherry
Mother’s family came to Crawford County Arkansas in the 1830s. Dad’s family got here around 1900. I was born in Fort Smith. Wife was born in Van Buren (city not county). I currently live in Lavaca which is east of Fort Smith.
I did live in Texas most of my life, maybe that’s where I developed a sense of humor often ill-timed and warped as it may be.
I have also spent a lot of time in Oklahoma.
Does that answer your question?
I do regret not offering condolences to the family of the deceased and I should have taken the situation more seriously but the humor of the situation was more than I could resist. I was joking about the goat but tolerance of sexual variations is very limited here.
Yes I know Arkansas, all the beauty and all the ugly.
Posted by: oonogil | September 8, 2011, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
If the blood found around the drain tests positive for anal residue, then we know what was going on.
Posted by: Dawson | September 8, 2011, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
This just in, weather man turns him self in after apparant run in with “cat burgler”.
Posted by: Michael | September 8, 2011, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
OONOGIL–I too know about the beauty of Arkansas. My dad was a native of Siloam Springs. I have family around Siloam Springs, Gentry, Ft Smith. I live between Springfield, Mo and Branson, Mo. We feel we have a lot to offer too. That’s why they call it the Ozarks. We outgrew hillbillyism years ago but the heart is still there.
Posted by: howdymo1 | September 8, 2011, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Oh my GOD, the “Brett Cummins wigging out” video was just a video of him making a hilarious face. He wasn’t “cooked up”, Danny. Gosh, people are such ingrated moronic jerks sometime.
Posted by: wheelman | September 8, 2011, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
HOWDYMO1 — The best restaurant in Arkansas is in Gentry. Only open for lunch but the food is worth the drive from Fort Smith. Best bread pudding on the planet. Had some good times in MO. Beautiful country, people are friendly. …… There is still a lot of hillbilly in the Ozarks and a lot of other places. I appologze if I sometimes offend people. I find humor where most people don’t, sometimes at the wrong time. Wise old Indian saying: Pity the man who has no laughter. He is more empty than the man who has no food.
Posted by: oonogil | September 8, 2011, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
This is sad to see another injustice especially in the South. Everyone deserves a fair trial, but be honest if that was someone of color he would not be walking free right now. There would be a million bond on him. When does someone use illicit drugs and an accident?? occurs, then walk away. I guess drunk driving is legal in this town. What kind of message are you sending? And yes there could be a cover up because we don’t know who Cummings know and could start spilling the beans on. You can question the Federal government’s practices but what about your own. And this State wonders why it has one of the highest poverty rate in the USA and it’s growing. It’s a shame some rotten apples can ruin the whole barrel. Wake Up!!
Posted by: arkfan | September 16, 2011, 6:25 pm 6:25 pm
Look, just to make it absolutely clear, i am not making any derogatory statements about homosexuality, and i am absolutely 100% in favor of gay rights, but i just have to ask this question: why are literally 100% of weathermen gay?
Posted by: Will | September 17, 2011, 3:44 am 3:44 am
Its not everyday that they have that happen … this weather man should know hes a freak and bad things happen when you mess with drugs.. little rock arkansas? no matter their sexual orentation, they should have used better judgement.
Posted by: chet | September 23, 2011, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm