SHIRLEY, Ark. — Authorities in Van Buren County have charged Brian J. Branscum, 31, of Clinton, Arkansas, in connection with the death of his father, Russell B. Branscum, 68, whose body was discovered inside his home near Shirley earlier this week.
According to the Arkansas State Police (ASP), the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office requested state assistance on November 6, 2025, after deputies found Russell Branscum deceased inside his residence at 14114 Highway 110, just outside of Shirley.
Special agents with the ASP Criminal Investigation Division (CID) identified the victim’s son, Brian Branscum, as a person of interest during the course of their investigation. On Saturday, November 8, investigators located him at a hotel in Hot Springs, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Branscum, who lives in Clinton and is originally from Timbo, Arkansas, has been formally charged and is currently being held pending a court appearance.
The deceased was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy to determine the official cause and manner of death.
Officials say the arrest was the result of a coordinated effort involving investigators from ASP CID Companies A, C, and E, along with assistance from Van Buren County deputies and the Hot Springs Police Department.
Authorities have not released further details about the case, which remains under active investigation.
The incident has left the close-knit communities of Clinton, Shirley, and Timbo deeply saddened, as neighbors and friends express shock and sympathy over the tragic loss of life.