unsolved murders in sevier county arkansas unsolved murders in sevier county arkansas

He found the usually locked front door ajar but no one home. According to Arkansas investigators, she told her friends she was originally from Florida. "You may remain anonymous. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. During the final week of 2020, three homicides were reported that are still unresolved despite the respective agencies and families of the victims involved reaching out for help. At first, her mother was uncertain, but eventually let her go. No conclusive proof of their cause of death has ever been established. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) There are at least four unsolved missing person cases in North Central Arkansas since 1991, and all are women. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Its available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. "Even though an arrest has not been made, it's never been put on a shelf and ignored," said Sevier County Sheriff's Office Chief Detective Jeff McCarter, who worked on the case back in 2009. The case was solved in 2019, however the prime suspect, Rory Allen Gregory, died in prison before the case could go to trial. Crystal Sharp's body has been sent to Little Rock, Arkansas for an autopsy. If youre interested in learning about the statistics surrounding the number of murders in Arkansas by year, multiple law enforcement agencies offer reports and statistics on their websites. 6720, he said. This Cold Case remains unsolved. James Hendricks and Kimberlin Mills (known as Jimmy and Kim respectively) are American murder victims who were discovered on June 17, 1978. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. A brutal lynching leaves unanswered questions. Constable John J. Sumpter, Jr. and Deputy Sheriff John McLemore were investigating reports of "cattle rustling" in Hot Springs when they watched a bright light descend behind some trees. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. Some would argue, however, that not all of these cases were properly handled or the criminals involved truly got what they truly deserved. Much of the publicly available information has come from family members and remains independently unconfirmed. All rights reserved. The victim was a young blonde, and she had been savagely beaten before being shot in the. The property had been sold to a management company created and owned by Horton. Susie m. Isaac Piner. Why these two cities were chosen among some of the more exotic locations, which include Seattle, New Orleans, London, Tokyo, and Paris, is unclear. The man in the rain shoes is not Fannins long-lost rich uncle (though he is rich); indeed, Fannin doesnt even know his name. Another man at the scene was initially taken into custody on an unrelated charge and questioned about the incident, but was later released. The Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought a death sentence for the pair. A successful businesswoman,Shannon Hercutt founded her company,Auntie Belham's Realty and Nightly Rentals, as the demand for vacation rental properties in the Great Smoky Mountains skyrocketed in the 1990s. Riggs requested the death penalty and her wish was fulfilled on April 30, 2000. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. On June 25, 1990, Simmons died by the method he had chosen, lethal injection. Until then, natives of the Natural State will remain haunted by these unsolved mysteries. Robert L. Tex Roberts wasperhaps still isan aging, eccentric, cigar-smoking millionaire. Her possible birthday is 22Jun1862--d. 1936 around Grenola, KS. Bojangles." Murder Mystery: Most Likely To Be Murdered Part 2. After serving in World War I, he returned home to Marion and began working at a utility plant. And we still have some of those here today.". At around 10:30 p.m., Morgan asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. Authorities found Banks' body not far from his vehicle, mutilated and tied to a tree. The Category is reserved for cases of Unsolved Mysteries that occurred in Arkansas. Police were able to track down the man responsible, James Roy McAlphin, and he's now in prison. Main Page; Discuss; All Pages; Community; Interactive Maps; Recent Blog Posts; Netflix series. Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. When investigators arrived at the scene, they say Timothy Sharp began approaching from behind the house and he did not have a weapon. The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were 9,951 murders in Arkansas. Special Report: Plans to exhume 1977 Arkansas murder victim's body are 'underway'. No evidence exists of sexual assault in any of the cases, an unusual factor, Jared said. (It is perhaps worth noting that the laws of the state of Texas are somewhat more lenient, and its citizens have considerably more difficulty keeping their jewels.) "We've always kept this case open. Riggs' defense said she was suffering from depression and apparently did not want to have her children split up after her envisioned suicide. Remnants of a sunken ship? You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know," the release said. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. Burnett's teenage daughter Minerva led authorities to find that her parents had planned Selby's murder and her brother John had carried it out. Mention "Woodson Lateral Road" to most Arkansans over 40 and you're bound to hear the Natural State's version of the vanishing hitchhiker legend. Still the curious account from a local TV reporter lingers more than a decade later. It was one of many reported "airship" sightings that swept the country in the late 19th century. In one of Echols' many interviews while in prison, he issued a sobering notion to filmmakers of the West of Memphis documentary: "The person who killed those three kids is still out there walking on the street.". He claimed to have sauntered into the Witte carrying a lawn chair and a concealed hammer. Well, two of the clues were posted in Fayetteville and Little Rock. Isadore Banks grew up in that era of oppression. The telling of the story varies wildly. Email him at travis.dorman@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @travdorman. When the Sevier County officers arrived, appellant admitted to being in his parents' home to get the keys to a family vehicle, a Chrysler Conquest, on the night of the murders. Nevertheless, the handwriting expert (using copies) testified that Roberts signatures were, in his opinion, not genuine. Billie Jean Phillips She was murdered in her Madison County home on September 2, 1994. But an Amarillo bank did, and Horton converted the securities into cash, transferring the proceeds into his own commercial accounts. UNSOLVED MURDER: Garland County, AR- TEELA HUDSON (17) and FRANK DELANEY (18) was found August 31, 1987 shot to death "execution-style " inside Delaney's car in eastern Garland County, and authorities are still trying to bring the killers to justice. "Yes the son called and told us that their dad had shot their mama," said Stringfellow. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. The three young men would later be released from prison, and the case would remain in a gray area among police and the public, with some believing the three men are guilty, and others believing that they are innocent. From the name on the ID, authorities found that the deceased had stolen the identity of a Cheryl Ann Wick in Minnesota. Both women had been shotbut by different guns. Although there are around 2,100 unsolved murders in Arkansas, most people with an interest in true crime may only know some of the better-known murders. The Cadillac Escalade was towed to an impound lot, andthe 40-year-old businesswoman's body was sent to a funeral home to be preparedfor burial. The search centered for a while on a young gigolo, but the police could prove nothing. Madewell recalled drivingbackto Sevier County from Ohio the day after Hercutt's death on Aug. 3, 2009. But subtle clues soon tipped off her loved ones that there was more to the story. It took one last cruel act of chancethe wrong meeting with the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong timeto produce a double torture-murder case that 38 years later remains in the Department of Public Safetys files, unsolved. One of the individuals who will be included in Arkansas serial killer list is James Waybern Hall, also known as Big Jim, who was convicted of killing 4 people in 1944 and 1945. Clinton's far-right critics pounced on the murder. Administrative Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm During his original stories with those subjects, Jared won Feature Writer of the Year from the AP and Arkansas Press Association. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Sheriffs deputies thought they were on the right track a month after the murder when they found a car with hair and traces of blood similar to Farentholds in the trunk. Another of many Arkansas killers, who is considered to have been a spree killer, is Ronald Gene Simmons Sr., who killed 16 people in a week-long murder spree in 1987. On . The decision remains controversial as the families of the three victims are divided in their opinions as to the guilt or innocence of the West Memphis Three. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. At first, her mother was uncertain, but eventually let her go. Since the case against the men depended on his testimony, charges had to be dismissed after his death. On June 9, 1995, Morgan Nick and her mother, Colleen Nick, went to a Little League baseball game in their town of Alma, Arkansas. (It was still working.) A willows branches reach toward the ground and raindrops falling from the branches resemble tears, giving it the name weeping willow. Willow trees are prevalent in fiction but throughout cultures across the world, too. Hazel, 46, and Nancy, 23, left their car on the afternoon of March 25, 1938, and requested that it be ready at 6 a.m. the next day. These Uniform Crime Reports show not only the information for the state as a whole, but also include data for many cities and counties as well, organized by the law enforcement agency. Further complicating the case was the mysterious "Mr. into the stories you've heard before, and encounter many others you haven't, in ways that actually help. The sheriff's office launched a homicide investigation. Noted now for being an obsolete method of execution, death by electrocution is still a legal secondary execution practice in Arkansas. Judge David Laser accepted the pleas and sentenced the three to time served. As late as 1965, Department of Public Safety Director Homer Garrison could say, I think theres a good possibility this case will still be solved someday. If it is, Garrison wont be around to see it. The Hercutt family said a $45,000. The victim of the gangland-style slaying was Randy Farenthold, a 32- year-old Corpus Christi playboy euphemistically described as a sportsman in press accounts. Unsolved Murder Files; Unsolved Mystery Files; Legend Files; Suggested Cases; The Investigators; Contributing . Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Texas Monthly Recognized by ASME in the 2023 National Magazine Awards. The list of his victims read like the Dallas social register: James Ling, Clint Murchison, Sr., P. E. Haggerty (then president of Texas Instruments), and at least a dozen others. Sep 16, 2019 NEA . Now she was appearing on national television to accuse her father whom she described as a "pathological liar" who made her "fear for her life" of having her sister killed. Anyone with information regarding Frazier's death is asked to email sheriff's Investigator J.D. A Randall County grand jury also indicted the lawyer for converting common stock to his own benefit. Jared takes a deep personal interest in these cases and others he covers, often becoming close with the family of the victims. Too late, Farenthold decided that hed been conned and went to the police. (The independent Roberts kept no servants.) Morgan's friends told police that they saw her talking to a "creepy" man. Escorted to the electric chair on January 4, 1946, he was all smiles, laughing and joking with his guards. We believe the more resources we can provide to digital volunteers and citizen solvers mean more citizen detective communities. The maharajahs had little trouble acquiring or keeping precious stones, ancient law automatically imposed the death penalty on any subject who possessed a jewel weighing more than one carat. Fannin has been looking for him, unsuccessfully, for almost twenty years. All rights reserved. A friend called Bergeron two days later with news of a special delivery letter from Tex, who wrote that he had left the state on business and that attorney Leon C. Horton would be managing his affairs during his absence. There are rumors of an unidentified figure in military fatigues loitering in the area before the train ran over Kevin and Don. Now the bodyguard began to investigate in earnest. The stranger then showed Sumpter and McLemore his vessel: a cigar-shaped amalgamation of blimp and balloon that was nearly 60 feet long The pilot even offered them a ride, but the officers refused. IZARD COUNTY, Ark. The attempt effectively resulted in a lobotomy. BOONE COUNTY, Ky. - Cold case detectives at the Boone County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky are investigating any possible connection between an unsolved double murder in 2011 and the 2017 . By the time the unknown object reached shallow water, it began to assume the identity of a mana man wrapped in chains, with his hands tied behind his back and a cement block around his neck. Friday Sept. 8, Bausdell and Stewart Ownby two huntsmen came upon a skeleton of a human being about a mile and a half from the . Although there are around 2,100 unsolved murders in Arkansas, most people with an interest in true crime may only know some of the better-known murders. Packard stopped making automobiles in 1958, and garages willing to repair cars overnight vanished long ago. He lived withand perhaps still lives withan older female companion, Jessie Forsyth. Sheriff Stringfellow adds, "Oh yes, we've had several restraining orders, but the couple would somehow makeup.". Pulaski County is the largest county in Arkansas, with a population of over 392,000 residents, and is home to Arkansas most popular city, Little Rock. Two weeks later, the two killers were caught in Portland, Oregon, and were sentenced by the state of Arkansas to die for their crimes The executions were carried out on January 8, 1997 by lethal injection. Her friends said that there was a "creepy" man talking to Morgan around the last time she was seen. McCarter, the chief detective, would not releasethe initial report a decade after the crash. They were released with ten-year suspended sentences, having served 18 years and 78 days in prison. On the evening of the murders a "disoriented" African American man, covered in blood and mud, entered a Bojangles restaurant not far from where the bodies were found. Volume 1. . $2000.00 Reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or person (s) responsible for the death of Billy Jean Phillips, she was murdered in her Madison County home on September 2, 1994. More specifically, in Little Rock, Arkansas most populated city, in 2018 the homicide rate was 20.07 per 100,000 residents. Once Hazel Frome and her daughter Nancy had decided to drive from San Francisco to Parris Island, South Carolina, they might have chosen the northern transcontinental route instead of the southern road through El Pasobut they didnt. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Two days after Roberts disappeared, Horton filed deeds to virtually all of Roberts real property, including the mansion on Spring Valley Road, at the Dallas County courthouse. 4. "We don't know if it's drug related or some sort of payback or what. We've shared with you 10 unexplained mysteries of Arkansas, but don't think it stops there. When her mother, Colleen Nick, came to get Morgan to go home, she found no trace of her daughter. However, if you are looking for unsolved case information, it is unlikely that you will be able to easily find Pulaski County murders evidence or Pulaski County murders crime scene photos until the case goes to trial. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. The primary focus is on victims Rebekah Gould, Karen Johnson Swift, and Amanda Tusing. todaysthv.com. It was not unusual for the 85-year-old Roberts to leave the house suddenly, but it was virtually unprecedented for 89-year-old, infirm Jessie Forsyth to accompany him. But only nine months after Clinton won the White House, Parks was gunned down in West Little Rock. In Japan, the willow represents ghosts. In Chinese culture, a willow branch can ward off evil spirits. Some of the most famous Arkansas murders that made and remained in headline news for an extended period of time, and are still considered some notorious Arkansas criminals, include former NFL player Raphel Cherry, who killed his wife in 1999; Curtis Vance, who murdered popular news anchor Anne Pressley in 2008; and Christina Riggs, who killed her two young children in 1997, among many other Arkansas famous murders. Investigators never found any physical evidence linking the WM3 to the crime scene. JONESBORO, Ark. Four days after they finally left El Paso, a county sheriff found them, dead and mutilated, in the desolate wasteland six miles east of Van Horn and half a mile south of U.S. 80. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation releases a Uniform Crime Report every year which shows the crimes, crime rates, and locations of crimes in every state, county, and city, including a report for crime in Arkansas. A hairy creature that stood seven feet tall, was 3 feet wide at the chest, walked upright like a human and it grabbed bobby ford outside his home near Fouke. In his newest book, Whispers in the Willows, Jared explores three unsolved murder cases hes covered throughout the years, and more. Vance was reportedly a fan of Pressly, and was a frequent viewer of her morning news show. The 38-year law enforcement veteran believes investigators have nailed down the motive but said, "If I told you what it was, it'd be obvious who I was talking about.". Jimmy Dunn, the districtattorney general, declined to comment. These cases that involve Arkansas have yet to be solved and victims have yet to see justice. Other evidence revealed that the victim briefly lived in Shreveport, La. In those halcyon days the dollar seemed like a good investment, and so the diamond found its way to New York, where it was purchased by E. B. McFarlin of San Antonio in 1956. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Rector was convicted on both counts and sentenced to death. All of the links in this post refer back to the author's references. The first homicide of 2021 was the discovery on March 27 of the remains of Paige Autumn White, 32, of Hot Springs, in a wooded area off Blacksnake Road near the Whittington Avenue end, which is being handled by the National Park Service's investigation division, assisted by the FBI, Hot Springs Police Department, Garland County sheriff's office and Arkansas State Police. Here's what is known about them SABRINA LYNN UNDERWOOD:. Inexplicably, though, Banks' case file was destroyed in 1992. The secret starts in the wooded terrain of Jack Mountain in Hot Spring County, where hunters found the remains of Linda Edwards back in 1977. Despite a handful of photos scattered across the internet, along with unsolicited help from members of the web, the victim's identity is still shrouded in mystery. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continue to work on the cases, which date from the last week of 2020 through . Hailing from Forrest City, Arkansas, Larry Porter Chism is wanted by the United States Marshals for charges related to his escape from the Lonoke County Jail in the December of 1978. The only evidence left behind were 10 9-mm bullet casings scattered on the pavement. The latest murder happened in DeQueen, Arkansas. The inquiry was hampered from the start when Horton was assaulted in the courthouse parking garage; his briefcase, containing important documents including the original power of attorney, was stolen. At the time of her death, Ted Hercutt told the News Sentinel in 2009, father anddaughter were embroiled in litigation over a piece of property. "I'll be seeing and hearing gunshots over there," said Arbor. He learned the concerning details of the crash from employees of Hercutt's vacation rental property business, and the family requested an autopsy just in time. Once inside, deputies found Crystal Sharp in the house with gunshot wounds to the head and face. Even the desert itself is different, a victim of the encroaching city and land developers. We've always constantlytried to do things to try to solve it. Rector then shot himself in the head in a suicide attempt. Other than Horton himself, no one except Ardis ODell Reed may know for certain where Tex Roberts is, but after he was released on $15,000 bond, Ardis ODell Reed vanished for over two years. Valuable jewelry had been ignored. Cherry's estimated release date is January 9, 2020. A third possibility caught the attention of the FBI, which entered the case to investigate a possible obstruction of justice. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. Finally, some others include east Arkansas unsolved murders, which include the 1986 murder of Sandra Alberda, the 1989 murder of Jimmie Wade Martin, the 1994 murder of Marty Bradley, the 1987 murder of Stella Patterson, and the 1970 murder of John Leonard, among many others in the remainder of the state. In most of the cases, authorities have made appeals to the public for help. Despite the fact that Horton had a document giving him power of attorney, no Dallas bank would negotiate the transactions. Mysteriously, she vanishes before they reach the destination, where her parents tell the driver that their daughter perished in a car accident many years ago. Simmons was charged with 16 counts of murder, found guilty, and sentenced to death. Few reporters have covered as many murder cases with the passion of long-time journalist and author, George Jared. A few examples of Arkansas cold cases which have been solved by DNA in recent years include the 2000 murder of Tawana Blunt and the 1985 murder of Mildred Lee Matheny, as well as many others. According to their YTD report, which shows crimes from January to the end of May 2021, there have been roughly 27 murders in Little Rock alone. Their hangings were reportedly well attended. Unfortunately, it seems there may never be an end to the growing number of Arkansas homicide and true crime stories in Arkansas, although advancements in forensic technology gives us hope that we can finally see justice for many cold cases which have remained unsolved for decades. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. Huckabee briefly addressed the issue in 2007, saying the hard drives were destroyed to "protect the privacy" of people whose information was stored in the data. Detectives meet regularly with prosecutors to go over the case, McCarter said, and DNA evidence was recently resubmitted to the state crime labfor testing. The 40-year-old was a hardworking business owner, a loving sister and an incredible aunt to Penny's daughter. He chronicles those experiences and cases, too. As of June, a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever killed Mathis. The Packard was found abandoned 56 miles east of the spot where the bodies were discovered. It may be that last trait that can most be closely identified with the author. "911. In August 1998, both boys were sentenced to confinement until they reached the age of 21, which is the maximum sentence available under Arkansas law. He asked to be put in touch with Tex personally, but Horton insisted on protecting his clients strict request for secrecy. Despite this, the many different law enforcement agencies in Arkansas will never stop trying to solve all of Arkansas true crimes, and seeking justice for the victims. Jjesus Anaya, a Hot Springs Police Department public information officer, told the newspaper on Nov. 30, while appealing to the public for help in the almost year-old case. Jared said his book also has chapters that include other cases, too. On August 19, 2011, they entered Alford pleas, which allow them to assert their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them. Maybe somebody knows something who just can't talk about it right now, but down the road they may. In 2001, the AMBER Alert itself an acronym tied the abduction of a young girl in Texas, was renamed in Arkansas to the Morgan Nick AMBER Alert. Bergeronwho knew he was a major beneficiary under his friends willdidnt quite know what to think about Hortons assurances that Tex was getting the money. Email Map. Frazier had been reported missing out on Feb. 8. In his telling, the father quickly realized his daughter did not die by accident, recruited a retired park ranger to investigate and pushed for an autopsy to be performed. The exact cause of death in Frazier's case has not been released. Looking at this year to date, the answer to how many murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, 2021 or how many homicides in Little Rock, Arkansas, 2021 can be found on the citys government website. Miller county sheriff's deputies have charged a brother and sister with the murders of two Texarkana men who's bodies were found inside a charred car. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. The hammer he used to shatter the display case, but the lawn chair had a much more elaborate function. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. The Democrat-Gazette ran a follow-up story about a week later. The siblings are being held without bond.Captain Toby Giles of the Miller County Sheriff's Department says interviews and good police work led them to the suspects. Roten checked in with other districts all across the state, but the only two incidents appeared to come from Little Rock. But in 1897, two Arkansas lawmen allegedly had a face-to-face encounter with a UFO and its pilot. A local black coalition offered a $1,000 reward to anyone with information, but no one came forward. In the nearly 20 years since her disappearance, Morgan's story has gained national attention. She was very passionate about her company," said Madewell, who now runs Auntie Belham's alongside his wife. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. In his book, Jared interviewed investigators and detectives who have worked on the case over many years. That may have been why somein the community grew to suspect the father had a hand in his daughter's killing. When they returned to the hotel shortly before midnight, they got the bad news about the car, and for the next four days, they shopped in the Juarez marketplace and danced away the nights. The overall violent crime rate in Arkansas as of 2019 was 867.1 per 100,000 residents, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Now, however, he is singing a different tune. These cases are still remembered by many Arkansanswhopray for justice. Bidding farewell to their new acquaintance who said he was on his way to, of all places, Nashville the two officers left. After trekking through the woods, they eventually found the source of the light. Clinton associate murdered execution style. He claimed that his father had collected a file on Clinton's salacious activities and that he was subsequently executed because of its contents. Bergeron looked at the familiar signature again and decided it didnt look quite right. The King reaped so much publicity he became an inspiration for lesser thieves, who attempted to emulate him without success. Even Rudolf Nureyev would have difficulty performing such a feat. Hercutt's father, Ted, was strong-willed, too. And a decade later, the case remains unsolved. On the evening of March 9, 2000, a litany of Arkansans reported seeing "balls of fire" falling from the sky. Her case received assistance from the FBI, was the subject of several television specials, and inspired her mother to establish the Morgan Nick Foundation. Authorities also discovered that the names in the Bible belonged to a family the victim stayed with while living in Dallas.