Living Dead Discovered in Centreville

Living Dead discovered near Bibb County Airport

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Daniel@centrevillepress.com

He isn't Elvis Presley, Tupac Shakur, or Jimmy Hoffa.  Timothy Dehart isn't a celebrity at all.  He was an ordinary guy who found himself on the wrong side of the law.  Then he decided to fake his own death.  In Bibb County, unlike Tupac and Elvis sightings if you ever heard "I saw Timothy Dehart at the gas station a few days ago" it was a strong possibility this person was telling the truth.  That is, however before September 10, 2009.  On that date U.S. Marshals arrested a man calling himself Chris Sullivan, as he was checking the mail at his residence near the Bibb County Airport in Centreville.  

It was a rather unceremonious ending to a very strange story.  Many who knew a man whose face and name had become synonymous with the Bibb County Airport appeared stunned.  Chris Sullivan did not exist.  The name and identity was simply a mask for a man named Timothy Dehart. 

In 2004 Dehart was convicted of bank fraud in Paragould, Arkansas.  The conviction came after he had sold equipment financed through his excavating company, which had not been paid off.  The federal judge ordered him to pay $29,000 in restitution and placed him under 5 years of supervised probation.  His problems did not end there, however.  According to authorities Dehart was also nearly $300,000 in debt to creditors.  

In September 2009 Dehart went to Gulf Port, Mississippi, in violation of his probation.  Perhaps, it didn't matter to the convicted felon that he was committing another crime because soon he'd be dead.  After his wife reported Dehart missing his empty boat was found doing circles off the coast. His truck and boat trailer were parked at a nearby dock.  

The first clue for many investigators regarding the potential that it was all a hoax came when they could not find a laptop computer he owned.  It was not in his car, his boat, or his residence.  

Investigators believed that unless Dehart had been kidnapped there was no reason for the computer to have gone missing.  Investigators also discovered that an unknown alternate bank account in Dehart's name had been emptied not long before his suspicious disappearance.  

After an extensive search performed by the Coast Guard and other authorities, Timothy Dehart was declared dead.  Simultaneously he was climbing the ranks of Arkansas’ most wanted criminals.  Dehart’s wife eventually moved on, marrying another man who had children of his own. 

There is no certainty from investigators as to how soon Dehart decided to make Centreville his home after disappearing.  What is known is he had a Chris Sullivan driver's license from New York and Tennessee. 

Once here and as Sullivan however, Dehart wasn't about to simply vanish into obscurity.  He made himself known to business owners and political leaders of the community.  He began working with the Airport Authority in 2007, and also helped start a business with a local woman Tanette Eyres.  This business would be called "Boneyard Acquisitions LLC."  The company did work for the Bibb County Board of Education and others around the area. Boneyard purchased a private airplane, reported average annual revenue of over $100,000, and had recently received an SBA loan for $50,000.  

U.S. Marshall Bob Clark believes Dehart may have gotten "too greedy."  His name (as Sullivan) and phone number were posted on aviation sites listing him as the airport manager.  He appeared before local government bodies on behalf of the Bibb County Airport Authority requesting further funds.  He had first hand knowledge of the seasonal revenue of the airport.  He presented ideas on how to expand the runways and upgrade the lighting of the small airport. According to U.S. Marshals Dehart in his own words suggested he helped the airport get federal grants.  Both Walt Williams and Kenny Hicks from the Airport Authority deny Dehart aided them with any grants.  Both also deny Dehart was a manager of any sort at the airport.

Did Dehart actually begin to believe he was someone else?  Had this guise of Chris Sullivan actually become a reality for the fugitive?  According to an anonymous high school friend, Dehart he was adopted and had several personal problems growing up.   

One fact which has been raising suspicion about Sullivan's/Dehart's intentions, is that Dehart's wife was to receive nearly $500,000 in life insurance 5 years after his disappearance.  Dehart was arrested just days before his wife would've collected that money.  While several media outlets are reporting, "law enforcement believes he was about to cash in on his own death", there is no proof to support that.  

In fact investigators are denying all together any suspicion of his wife's knowledge or involvement. 

“We believe she is innocent.  She was not involved in any way and had moved on with her life,” said Clark.  "At the same time, the investigation is ongoing and this is not a possibility we are ignoring."

Tim is facing a weapons charge in Alabama for having a firearm on his person as a convicted felon.  He is also likely to face charges in Mississippi.  Investigators do have reason to believe that his involvement with the airport and "Boneyard" may have been plays of a con man.  

“This man is a true con man, but more than that he is dangerous," Clark expressed.   "He is ex military and has made comments in the past, which show a violent nature.  Weapons were found on his person.  The man Centreville citizens knew is not the real man.  Con mans are typically charming and very likable, that is how cons are pulled off.” said Clark.  

Though nothing confirms he had any intention to con either the airport or Boneyard's owner Eyres out of money.  Certainly his past lends support to those notions. 

Other publications have reported that Dehart is in Arkansas awaiting trial.  As of Monday, September 21 he is still in custody of authorities in Alabama.  He will face weapons charges here.  U.S. Marshall Bob Clark said Dehart would be extradited soon, but there is no date made certain.  There is still an ongoing investigation exploring many avenues in the strange case of Timothy Dehart and Chris Sullivan.  As it is gathered here, so it will be reported to you. 

Bibb County Airport Authority member, Chris Sullivan was arrested by U.S. Marshals on September 10 and revealed to really be Tim Dehart.  This Scooby-Doo-esque moment was courtesy of his staged death nearly five years ago.  Dehart is a convicted felon, found guilty of bank fraud who also owed creditors $300,000 at the time of his disappearance.