WebOn the morning of September 26, 1974, the body of Fern Cowen Rodgers was discovered on the floor of her home in Searcy, Arkansas. NeighborhoodScout has done just that. Dr. Douglas Stevens, a clinical psychologist, testified for the appellant by stipulation that the appellant's waiver of rights signed at 3:10 P.M. on November 9, " Would have been the product of confusion, it would not have been the product of intelligence and understanding." Please try again. The appellant was asked by the police if he would agree to come to the prosecuting attorney's office for the purpose of discussing some new developments in the case. ", "The Porter Rodgers murder case was one of the first stories I covered when I came to Arkansas as a television reporter. The next police interview with the appellant occurred during the early morning hours of November 9. Micah Pate was a young nurse in Bartlett who was killed by her husband in 2009. A lifelong writer, Deana has been working as a freelance magazine and newspaper writer for 28 years. Porter R. RODGERS, Sr., Appellant, City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. All prospects of a truce In Izard County, a billboard advertising a reward in the murder case of Rebekah Gould was installed near Melbourne. The appellant contends that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence photographs of the deceased. Treat v. State, 253 Ark. At the request of the appellant he was also permitted to personally confront Miss Hale, who confirmed to the appellant that she had made the statement to the police. This is for the simple reason that Dr. Rodgers does not attribute his confession to the allegedly coercive behavior of Lester. Murder of an Elvis Girl: Solving the Jenny Maxwell Case, The Ghost: The Murder of Police Chief Greg Adams and the Hunt for His Killer, Wilder Intentions: Love, Lies and Murder in North Dakota, The Murder of Kelsey Berreth: A Shocking True Crime Story. Hunter Dean Bishop, 28, of Searcy, who was charged Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. Police in Searcy are investigating a murder/suicide that occurred on N. Ella St Wednesday afternoon. But, in the exercise of discretion, the necessity for a defendant's searching confidential matter must be weighed against the public policy of confidentiality or secrecy. WebMCR-424 0:06:49 - PORTER RODGERS MANSION AT SEARCY WHERE MURDER HAPPENED - Mar-1975; MCR-424 0:07:04 - DAVID PRYOR AS GOV ON HIGHWAY COMMISSION CONTROVERSY DURING 75 SESSION - Mar-1975; 1 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-575-2000 NEWS. On Thursday June 24, 2004, human remains were found off of Rio Vista Road in White County and were later identified as Jesus Silvia. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations. In Downs v. State, 231 Ark. 18,000 local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. Sanders declares state of emergency after storms, Embattled UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns, Zelensky: There will be two Victory Days in Ukraine. Dr. Oscar Kozberg was a staff psychiatrist at the State Hospital and was the State's primary witness on this issue. The search engine finds the neighborhoods that are the optimum fit to the set of criteria you choose. Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Searcy Police Department at (501) 279-1038. Bishop was already being held at the White County Law Enforcement Center on the charges of Possession of a Firearm By Certain Persons and Theft by Receiving. If you have any information, call the Searcy Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 501-279-1038. 3090, 41 L.Ed.2d 1039; Commonwealth v. Dominico, supra; People v. Bottom, 76 Misc.2d 525, 351 N.Y.S.2d 328 (1974). Each gave the opposite opinion from that of the defense experts. Lester and the appellant ate lunch in the room, at the suggestion of the appellant, and watched a football game on television. : All rights reserved. After officers entered the home, Clevenger was found dead. Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. The appellant was not mentally defective. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. WebMaddison Clevenger, a 23-year-old Searcy paramedic, was found shot dead in her residence on Horton Street on May 15, 2020. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Now let us turn to take a look at how Searcy does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. However, we would point out that Dr. Rodgers' version does not, in fact, place the confession within the framework of the classic coerced confession cases. It is undisputed that the disciplinary action was in another case and was totally unrelated to the Rodgers' murder investigation. Hence, the issue now before the Court is whether this was newly discovered evidence which would entitle the defendant to a new trial. Shores v. U.S., supra; Graves v. State, 489 S.W.2d 74 (Tenn.Cr.App.1972). The confession was given freely and voluntarily. December 28, 1997. Robert Simmons was a resident in Augusta where his family still resdies. Robin was reported missing January 31, 1995. 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Our nationally-comparable school ratings are covered under US Patent No. Mrs. Murdaugh was found by her daughter lying in the doorway of the kitchen and dining room, with multiple wounds to the head. On the night of September 25, 1974, Fern Rodgers was shot and killed at her home in Searcy. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Jesus Silvia was a 39 year-old Hispanic male from Jacksonville who was reported missing on Wednesday, June 9, 2004. This, the trial court may do by an in camera inspection of the material sought. The appellant filed a motion for a new trial because of this newly discovered evidence. A look at what bills could become laws in Arkansas next week, Tornado impacts Pike County, community begins clean up, Your Arkansas weather forecast from THV11, School bus crash causes traffic delays on I-630, West Memphis Three: A second chance to prove innocence, 'I was hiding hard' | Fourth grader who survived Uvalde school shooting gives heartbreaking account of gunman's classroom assault, Police: Arkansas officer held on 'probable cause' for rape of child. This morning they went to a home on Horton St to check on Madison Clevenger. Web On May 21, at 4:30 p.m., The Searcy Police Department served 26-year-old Hunter D. Bishop a warrant for Capital Murder Class Y Felony in connection to the murder of 23 While there is substantial conflict between the appellant's and the police version of this interview, several facts related to it are not in dispute. In other words, this confession is not alleged to have been made because of fear of police mistreatment. This is compared to communities of all sizes, from the smallest to the largest. SEARCY, Ark. Now its being investigated as a homicide. She is on the faculty of University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College, where she teaches college writing. This case is still an active cold case. Jacob Seth Varnell is scheduled to appear in court Monday for a probable cause hearing. Last seen in the McRae, Arkansas area on August 3, 1995. She holds a B.A. He was lying on a bed in his bedroom with blood on his face from an apparent gunshot wound from a .38 caliber bullet. UPDATE: Searcy Police are now investigating this as a homicide. 228, 424 S.W.2d 856, cert. The State's witnesses stated that Dr. Rodgers' waiver of his rights was " the product of intelligence and understanding.". Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. : Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. We have reviewed the record relative to the confession according to the standard established in Degler v. State, 257 Ark. The record herein is clear that the appellant's counsel was already aware of the facts surrounding Policeman Lester's discipline by his employer. With a crime rate of 49 per one thousand residents, Searcy has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. .orange-text-color {font-weight:bold; color: #FE971E;}View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. The appellant knew the difference between right and wrong. These facts, which are either admitted or uncontradicted, include the following. Lester summoned Officer Doug Stevens to be present during the interview. Height 5'11" Weight 170 pounds Eyes Blue Hair Brown. An investigation is underway. We will update this article with more information as it becomes available. However, the appellant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to remain silent and his right to counsel prior to making his confession. In fact, your chance of getting your car stolen if you live in Searcy is one in 246. This was believed to be a trip he was going to make to Louisiana to spend time with Kisa and their children. The appellant was, of course, convicted of a lesser charge, murder in the first degree. Alarmed, Mary Claire called the police. Cf. SEARCY, Ark. Call it Arkansas noir. Please take the time to watch this video and if you have any information, please contact us. WebMicah Denise Rine was born and raised in Searcy, Arkansas. The incident is being investigated as a homicide. APPLY Online Schedule a VISIT Make a Gift. , File size 7,043,501 and 7,680,859. The omission of that report was strictly on an internal decision of the State Hospital staff which was never revealed to the prosecution. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Townsend v. City of Helena, 244 Ark. It happened this morning at a home on Horton Street. That is not the case here. For Searcy, we found that the violent crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). WebAbout a month later, Rupert Barnett, son of the city marshal and reputed to have a violent temper, killed Mack Wilcox during a quarrel over a card game. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. In any event, we do not accept as valid the proposition that a jury qualified to return a death penalty is necessarily prejudiced on the question of guilt or innocence. v. Regardless of whether Searcy does well or poorly compared to all other cities and towns in the US of all sizes, compared to places with a similar population, it fares badly. SEARCY, Ark The Searcy Police Department is making a call for more officers as violence makes its way into the city and surrounding areas. Police said that based on the evidence they have; it is believed that Ollis Jr. murdered his wife and then committed suicide. 244, 21 L.Ed.2d 203. The chief said the majority of the crime in Searcy is petty theft. The admissibility of photographs is a matter within the discretion of the trial court. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 21. SEARCY, Ark. This argument is without merit. The entire interview lasted approximately one hour. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Dr. Kozberg testified that when he first reviewed the appellant's file, it was his opinion that Dr. Taub's psychological testing was incomplete. Appellant was given a Miranda warning and promptly signed a written waiver of those rights. Therefore, Dr. Kozberg removed the report of Dr. Taub and directed Dr. John G. Althoff, a staff psychologist, to perform a complete battery of tests on the defendant. There we held, citing the Nail case, that the right to confront witnesses is not impaired unless the defendant is denied the right to question the doctors who examined him. They have a home in a nice part of ", - Mel Hanks, former television news journalist, - Chris Raff, Prosecuting Attorney, Arkansas 17th Judicial District (1983-2014), - Judge Mary McCall Cash, witness for the prosecution in the trials, ASIN We are asking for your help to give this family closure by providing information on the events that took place and lead to Robert Simmons's death. WebCrime in Searcy, Arkansas. On August 6, 1994 at about 3:30 am, Kisa and the children left the residence without Marty to go to Louisiana. According to a news release, White County deputies along with officers of the Arkansas State Police and the Higginson Police Department arrested a 17-year-old Searcy youth March 17 and intended to file formal charges of Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. After the trial, it was discovered that the reports of Dr. Daniel Taub relative to his examination and tests of the appellant had been omitted from the State Hospital file. Both bodies are being sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsies and the investigation is ongoing. Prior to that interview the police investigators had obtained statements from both Hale and Kimbrell which implicated them, together with the appellant, in the murder of Mrs. Rodgers. 43-1301. In addition, NeighborhoodScout found that a lot of the crime that takes place in Searcy is property crime. Searcy, AR, 1979 - 2023. Gender and Ethnic Affinity: Evaluations by a forensic anthropologist suggested the remains shared both classifications as male or female. The appellant again readily agreed. The State, it is argued, used this charge to allow it to qualify a death penalty jury. Raw data sources: The appellant was again informed of his rights, specifically that he had the right to remain silent and the right to have an attorney present during the interview. Arkansas parents, educators react to Texas elementary school massacre. Perry v. State, 255 Ark. The appellant agreed. Many of the names and places were familiar to me even though I had never heard this story before. Stevens was present during the entire interview. The trial court denied the appellant's motion for a new trial without specifying the reasons therefor. In short, the appellant, after indicating a desire to consult an attorney, was always given an adequate time in which to carry out that desire before he was again asked to submit to an interview. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. At about 4:12 pm, Marty was found dead in his home. The White County Sheriffs Office said on social media that Jacob Seth Varnell, 24, of Bald Knob was arrested in the case. The appellant was tried alone for his alleged part in this conspiracy. A hearing was held on that motion at which Dr. Taub testified. Its very tragic, said Todd DeWitt from the Searcy Police Department. The admissibility of such a report has been established by this Court in Nail v. State, 231 Ark. Learn more. U.S. v. Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, D.C., 36 F.R.D. Sometime on the night of August 2829, 1868, an African-American man named Ban (sometimes referred to as Dan) Humphries was killed near Searcy (White County). Thereafter, his freedom was not restricted in any manner and the police did not seek to again interview him for several hours. Since no one was in the office, Lester requested that another policeman, Doug Stevens, be present during the interview with the appellant. The trial court gave four instructions related to the jury's consideration of the appellant's confession. In other words, once Dr. Rodgers had stated an intention to consult an attorney, the appellant argues that the State was effectively barred from further interrogation until the consultation with an attorney had in fact taken place. There is no contention by the appellant that the death penalty jury was improperly qualified under the guidelines established in Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. The confession was the product of the last such interview. SEARCY, Ark. There was a Porter Rodgers Sr. & Jr., which was confusing & I really disliked the idea of anything disturbing my childhood fantasies about the big white house so I didnt pursue much info. Date(s) & Update Frequency: Over time, I gathered the hazy idea that a doctors wife had been murdered during a robbery and/or maybe that the doctor had killed her. I almost felt like I had been transported back in time to 1974 in Searcy, Arkansas. The request comes more than a month after police were called out to multiple shootings that occurred within 30 minutes of each other. The appellant's argument is neither factually nor legally sound. The appellant met Lester between 12:30 P.M. and 12:45 P.M. on November 9 in Room 124 at the Kings Inn Motel. Gen., Little Rock, for appellee. Rather, it is argued that the information it would have revealed would have been useful in cross-examining Lester. The 68-year-old socialite was murdered, To me Porter Rodgers hospital was a creepy, dilapidated old building that looked like something from the set of a horror movie and indeed was used as a haunted house for at least one Halloween that I can remember. Update: SEARCY, Ark.- Searcy Police and U.S. The 68-year-old socialite was murdered, sometime in the night, by two bullets fired into her head. The appellant argues that the prosecution knew in advance of jury selection and trial that its evidence would not support a capital felony murder conviction. According to a release from the Searcy Police Department sent Tuesday, officers were sent to South Oak Street to check the welfare of Van Stevens, 74, of Searcy. I had never before heard of the Porter murder case and found myself intrigued from the start of this book. The appellant then apparently, although he denies any recollection of it, made a statement to Lester which was incorporated in the confession. During the course of the interview, the appellant told the officers that he wanted to talk to his lawyer before he made any definite statement relative to his wife's death. Since defense counsel was permitted a wide latitude in cross-examination and had drawn admissions from the witness which could be taken as damaging to his credibility, we are unable to say that the trial court erred to the prejudice of appellant. They then drove together in Lester's vehicle to the prosecuting attorney's office. The appellant next contends that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence the State Hospital report on the ultimate issue of insanity. Police in Searcy are investigating its second homicide in two weeks. It was also stated tha the skeletal remains were possibly African or Indian. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case. Crime risk indices are nationally comparable on a 1 100 scale, where 100 means safer than 100% of U.S. neighborhoods. , Screen Reader Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. At the time of appellant's trial there was such a statute in Arkansas. This second interview with the appellant was also recorded. Authorities said they got a call around 7:45 p.m. Friday about the stabbing in the 200 block of South Wallace Road in Bald Knob. Relatives say former US Marine killed fighting in, What about Paul Whelan and Brittney Griner left in, Russia frees US Marine vet as part of prisoner exchange, Strike kills 50 at crowded Ukraine rail station, Pink Floyd members reunite and record song for Ukraine, US to send $100M more in military aid to Ukraine, Ukrainian poisonings kill 2 Russian soldiers: officials, National Weather Service confirms tornadoes in AR, Proposed bill would mandate teaching breastfeeding, Garland Co. sheriff releases names in shooting deaths, Garland County deputies: Man & woman dead after shooting, AST Blog: Severe Weather Awareness Week Watches, Heart of a Champion: UAM student on the big screen, Video shows student punching staff member at Little, Loophole getting Arkansans high off Delta-8 products, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. : Few other communities of this size have a crime rate as high as Searcy. SEARCY, Ark. , X-Ray By purchasing this title, you agree to Audible's, Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. WebTwo unsolved Ozarks murders are back in the news this week. WebA true-crime book focuses on the murder of a small-town physicians wife. That is, the appellant was intellectually superior to the average seventy year old person. Sanders declares state of emergency after storms, National Weather Service confirms tornadoes in AR, Proposed bill would mandate teaching breastfeeding, Garland Co. sheriff releases names in shooting deaths, Garland County deputies: Man & woman dead after shooting, AST Blog: Severe Weather Awareness Week Watches, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Chris Edwards advised that the skeletal remains had been identified as Robert Simmons who was a missing person out of Augusta, Arkansas. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. That was the motel where the State Police personnel were staying while in Searcy and Room 124 was the room occupied by Lester. Under these circumstances we hold that Dr. Rodgers' rights received more than adequate protection at the hands of the police. Allen and Nall do an excellent job fleshing out the shocking and sensational details from so long ago. Still, the trial court has some discretion in the matter of discovery when impeaching matter is concerned. Even if we assume that appellant was not aware of the identity of all those who had examined and tested him, we do not know why a timely direct inquiry as to their identity, independent of the subpoena duces tecum, would not have led to the information ultimately discovered after trial. These promotions will be applied to this item: Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. In substance, there was evidence to the effect that it was intended that Kimbrell rob Mrs. Rodgers in addition to killing her. Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2022. On May 21, at 4:30 p.m., The Searcy Police Department served 26-year-old Hunter D. Bishop a warrant for Capital Murder Class Y Felony in connection to the murder of 23-year-old Madison Clevenger. At the Denno hearing below, both the State and the appellant introduced expert opinion evidence relative to the appellant's mental capacity at the time of the events described above. Read more about Scout's Crime Data. It contained no statements which would tend to incriminate the appellant. Anonymous tips on any of these cold cases can be left with dispatch at 501-279-6279. EVENTS. Dr. Taub conducted the initial psychological examination and testing of the appellant. We have concluded that the trial court did not here abuse its discretion because the alternatives it provided appellant's counsel were reasonable under the circumstances, and we are unable to say that appellant suffered any prejudice. Further, we stated that this Court on appeal would review the totality of the circumstances surrounding the confession to determine whether the trial court's decision on admissibility was clearly against the preponderance of the evidence. The expert psychological and psychiatric evidence is in the same category. As much that is going on, Searcy is still a good town, said DeWitt. Lester then asked the appellant to tell him what had happened from the beginning, whereupon the appellant related the circumstances of his wife's murder. A police officer, James Lester, drove the appellant back to his hotel at approximately 4:45 A.M. Lester testified that he did not attempt to interrogate the appellant during the trip to the hotel. "Nall and Allen capably deliver this tale of greed, sex, and betrayal. Lester admitted on cross-examination all aspects of the occurrence, including having given deceptive responses in a polygraph examination. . : The appellant contends that filing the more serious charge is reversible error unless there is evidence in the record which would have sustained a jury verdict of guilty to the charge of capital felony murder.
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