Adam Hooper

A 50-year-old Oskaloosa man was found dead on his farm Sunday morning. While it was first reported as a missing person case, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating Dale Kingsbury’s death as a homicide.

Longtime friend Katrina Bayless said Kingsbury and his wife had lived on the farm in Jefferson County for 15 years.

“They’ve been fighting and scraping for years to survive on that land,” said Bayless.

Police have arrested 36-year-old Adam Hooper as a suspect in the case. Bayless said Kingsbury had a disability that kept him from running his farm as efficiently as he wanted, so he and his wife let Hooper stay at the farm as long as he worked.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig said the county attorney is expected to announce formal charges against Hooper Monday afternoon.