Sheriff thinks Clendenon died before fire converged

An Irving College man was found dead in a burning field Friday afternoon, his death, authorities believe, coming not as a result of the fire but due to a heart attack.

The victim, James Lofton (Dib) Clendenon, 74, was found by his son late Friday afternoon in a field located on his property off Slaughter Bend Road, which is off Camp Woodlee Road in the Irving College community.

‘We’re suspecting he overexerted himself working on his property and died of a heart attack,’ said Sheriff Jackie Matheny. ‘He had been in poor health and the investigation showed no signs of a struggle or foul play.’

Matheny said Clendenon had been clearing and burning brush while working alone in the field. The victim was found in the middle of the burning field, his body receiving extensive burns. Those burns, Matheny said, are believed to have happened after Clendenon died and the fire began burning uncontrolled.

‘Officers found his tractor still running when they got there,’ Matheny said, noting the heart attack theory is bolstered by indications Clendenon did not try to get away from the burning field. ‘Normally, unless a person is incapacitated, they would try to get away from fire, so the fact there was no sign he tried to get out suggests a heart attack took his life before the fire reached him.’

Obituary information for Mr. Clendenon is on page 2-A.