unsolved murders in sevier county arkansas

Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of Melissa Missy Witt, the 1995 murder of Marlo Taylor, and the 1987 double murder of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, among many others. Tusing vanished on June 14, 2000. Travis Dorman covers crime, breaking news and law enforcement. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Valuable jewelry had been ignored. National Park Service special agents are working with the other agencies "to find out more about the days leading up to White's death," the statement said, and seeking tips from the public to determine the circumstances related to her homicide. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Barnett may have been the same John Barnett who, at the time of the 1900 census, was living in Independence Township (Lee County). Other friends had also received similar cards, Bergeron learnedall with the addresses typed. She vanished in Halloween 2011 and then her body was found in a cemetery not far from her house underneath some bushes. Morgan's friends told police that they saw her talking to a "creepy" man. Ted Hercutt was never charged, and he died in 2017. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The victim was a young blonde, and she had been savagely beaten before being shot in the head by her boyfriend. Madewell recalled drivingbackto Sevier County from Ohio the day after Hercutt's death on Aug. 3, 2009. However, due to an ever-expanding Pulaski County, the once rural highway is slowly being overrun by suburbia. Riggs requested the death penalty and her wish was fulfilled on April 30, 2000. Crystal Sharp's body has been sent to Little Rock, Arkansas for an autopsy. You may find yourself wondering, Why is Arkansas crime rate so high? Although there is not a single, nor a simple, answer to this complex question, it can be assumed that Little Rocks crime rate is higher than smaller towns in Arkansas due majorly to its size and population. While most of the stories share similar motifs, the legend seems to have emanated from a report published in 1980. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Five famous cases the police may never mark closed.. Sheriff Stringfellow adds, "Oh yes, we've had several restraining orders, but the couple would somehow makeup.". A brutal lynching leaves unanswered questions. And yet another account says drivers pick up a young girl asking for a ride home. Where is the diamond? Billie Jean Phillips She was murdered in her Madison County home on September 2, 1994. With the first season of the Hell and Gone podcast bringing new attention and life to the case of Rebekah Goulds murder, Jared plans a very comprehensive break-down of all the new findings in the needless murder. More specifically, in Little Rock, Arkansas most populated city, in 2018 the homicide rate was 20.07 per 100,000 residents. Email Map. At first, her mother was uncertain, but eventually let her go. Today (Friday, August 16) is the official release date for Jareds new book. Her body was found in a nearby ditch. They ranged from punishing Banks for an alleged affair with a white woman to sending a grim warning to the few successful black citizens of Crittenden County. The third case began in October, 2011. 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. 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. 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. West Texans Are Learning What It Means to Live in Bear Country, How Florence ButtNot Her SonLaunched the H-E-B Empire, H-E-Bs True Texas BBQ Restaurant Is Slipping, Jimmy Carters Peanut-and-Egg Taco Made Quite the Impression on San Antonians. "We don't know if it's drug related or some sort of payback or what. Lavinia and her husband were sentenced to death in October 1845. He owned several businesses, along with nearly 1,000 acres of land. 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. "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. Moreover, witnesses who originally testified against the trio later said they were pressured by law enforcement officials to do so. Her mother is a full blood Cherokee, Susie Ward. - A poem titled "New Lite" sparks memories of an old, dark secret. The Hercutt family said a $45,000. Mathis was lying next to the road in a driveway with "what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Cicada 3301 is the name of a group that has annually for the past three years at least created what's essentially an online scavenger hunt for the technologically savvy. 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. "I know you have paid someone to kill Shannon," Penny Stephens told Ted Hercutt, his mouth agape. No one knows precisely what he is doing today because Tex Roberts and Jessie Forsyth vanished mysteriously from his suburban Dallas mansion six years ago and havent been seen since. Forty minutes later, they returned, but found no trace of the pilot or his mysterious airship. At around 10:30 p.m., Morgan asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. 2009 KSLA-TV & Raycom Media. 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. The McFarlin family gave the 49.2 carat stone to the Witte two years later, where it was prominently displayed as the McFarlin diamond. The latest murder happened in DeQueen, Arkansas. Over the years, 7,797 of those murders were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved murders in Arkansas today. On one venture, which netted him $215,000 in stones, the King apparently leaped fifteen feet from a wall to a narrow second-story bathroom window ledge. 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. "You may remain anonymous. 6720, he said. The Sevier County officials told appellant that they had a subpoena issued by the Sevier County Prosecuting Attorney and that they wanted to question him further in . Simmons was charged with 16 counts of murder, found guilty, and sentenced to death. Vance was reportedly a fan of Pressly, and was a frequent viewer of her morning news show. After trekking through the woods, they eventually found the source of the light. He lived withand perhaps still lives withan older female companion, Jessie Forsyth. This Cold Case remains unsolved. The local Packard garage might have had the necessary parts to repair the carbut it had to order them and wait five days instead. 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. The train engineer noticed them but was unable to stop in time to prevent running over them; he later rationalized that due to the noise of the oncoming train, the boys had to have been dead and positioned on the tracks before he arrived. Ford shot at the creature and it briefly fell to the ground before disappearing into the night. The attempt effectively resulted in a lobotomy. From the name on the ID, authorities found that the deceased had stolen the identity of a Cheryl Ann Wick in Minnesota. A Randall County grand jury also indicted the lawyer for converting common stock to his own benefit. Jared said his book also has chapters that include other cases, too. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. At the sound of the alarm, the exit from the room containing the diamond was blocked by a gate descending from the ceilingbut the thief left the lawn chair in the doorway to keep the gate from dropping all the way to the floor. Thank you to Brandon Howard with Highlands Today for the story. The real Wick claimed she didn't know the victim. By the late 1940s, he had amassed a small fortune. todaysthv.com. Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. She was last seen chasing fireflies with her friends on the outskirts of the ball fields. 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. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were around 9,951 murders in Arkansas alone. According to Arkansas State Trooper Robert Roten, his office had two separate reports of drivers picking up a "clean-cut, well-dressed" man who frightened them with his claims of the Second Coming. Authorities ask anyone with information in the case to call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office at865-453-4668 or 865-428-1899. Authorities in Arkansas are seeking information in a double homicide that has remained unsolved for 21 years. 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. "She was a well-kept lady.". That nightafter all, it was only one nightthe socially prominent women did something a little out of character; they went to Juarez and lived it up. The 40-year-old was a hardworking business owner, a loving sister and an incredible aunt to Penny's daughter. "She was kind of vain in the fact that she wanted her hair to be perfect all the time," said her first cousin, John Madewell. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. woman accused of using aunts debit card for 136 DoorDash orders held on preset $18 million bond. In Buddhism, the willow branch represents compassion. During a previous escape, Chism shot and seriously wounded a correctional officer. There were, however, plenty of clues. They said it had political overtones, pointing to the untimely suicide of Vincent Foster a childhood friend of Clinton's and one of his closest allies only months earlier as evidence of a connection. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. At the time it was thought he had been caught in a bear trap, frozen to death and thrown aside. They were partially undressed but had not been raped. Cherry was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but upon appeal of his conviction, his sentenced was reduced to 30 years. Maybe somebody knows something who just can't talk about it right now, but down the road they may. But he would like to. Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of Melissa "Missy" Witt, the 1995 murder of Marlo Taylor, and the 1987 double murder of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, among countless others which receive much less media attention. According to this same report, in 2019, 242 people were murdered in Arkansas. In June of 2000, Amanda Tusing was found dead in the Big Bay Ditch in Craighead County, Arkansas, 14 miles from where her car was discovered three days earlier. HOT SPRINGS -- The new year began with some homicides still unsolved. 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. It's unknown whether or not they were Kevin and Don. Usually, its a quiet whisper because you dont want anyone to know you committed this horrible heinous crime.. Others describe a girl in a white dress, draped in a motorcycle jacket, who forever wanders the highway in search of her deceased prom date. 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 . Isadore Banks grew up in that era of oppression. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. If you have an interest in learning more about the statistics and data surrounding crimes in Arkansas, you can easily find multiple law enforcement agencies which release annual reports on their websites that show, in detail, the crimes in that area. Much of the publicly available information has come from family members and remains independently unconfirmed. The reason behind the frenzied housecleaning has never been fully explained. Whether you agree or disagree with the amount of justice served in the courts decisions, theres no doubt that these terrible murders or even the punishments served by the perpetrators will be erased from the minds of Natural State natives anytime soon. Easily the state's most infamous missing persons case, 6-year-old Morgan Nick was abducted from a little league baseball game in Alma in June of 1995. 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. Stephens had been outspoken about the case in years past, speaking with local media outlets, offering cash rewards for information and expressing a lack of confidence in the investigation. All three were murdered. Those with information can call or text the ISB Tip Line at (888) 653-0009; leave tips online by visiting http://www.nps.gov/ISB and clicking "Submit a Tip;" or by email at nps_isb@nps.gov. Deputy dining at IHOP makes arrest for disorderly conduct, JONESBORO Arkansas State University has released the list of students who were awarded diplomas on the undergraduate and graduate levels during the 2017 Spring Commencement ceremony May 13 in the Convocation Center. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continue to work on the cases, which date from the last week of 2020 through the end of 2021. The sheriff's office launched a homicide investigation. Clues have been hidden in digital images, spread physically across the globe, and often reference the work of famous philosophers and complex mathematical theorems. The case reached a new level of prominence in 2015 when Shannon Hercutt's sisterwent on the Dr. Phil show to accuse theirfatherof orchestrating her murder. Now the bodyguard began to investigate in earnest. Sumpter and McLemore's account isn't without precedent. Due to the size and population of Little Rock, Arkansas, murders are more common there than in most other cities in Arkansas. 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. Police were able to track down the man responsible, James Roy McAlphin, and he's now in prison. "The Hot Springs Police Department and the Watts family are asking for help from the media and public to bring light on this case as it will be one year as of Dec. 29 since this horrendous crime took place," Anaya said, noting they are seeking any information leading to the arrest of the individuals involved. Despite the heinous crime, a formal investigation was never performed. Finally, some unsolved central Arkansas murders include the 2011 murder of Kimberly Steele, the 2002 murder of Jane Murdaugh, the 1987 murder of Sandra Lynn Williams, and the 1995 murder of Robin Lynn Farnsworth, among others. 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. 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. Garland County Prosecutor Michelle Lawrence confirmed Thursday the case was still under review by her office. Police had noted in earlier posts Frazier had not been in contact with his family since Feb. 3 and had missed scheduled medical appointments and not reported to work. From 1956 to 1966 a cat burglar heisted more than $1 million in jewels from palatial homes in north Dallas and the Park Cities. Hes willing to tell where it is, toobut not unless the feds or the state grant him favors. Investigators never found any evidence that he was involved in the killing, McCarter said. Unsolved Murder in Sevier County. Your email address will not be published. Johnson has since faced run-ins with Arkansas law subsequent to his release and is currently serving a four-year federal sentence on weapon and drug charges. She would'veworn her seat belt. $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. Love Arkansas? He died in 196830 years after Hazel and Nancy Frome. "And I think that sometimes it takes years and years to solve a case. 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. Despite being terribly beaten, the two survived. (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.) Susie Ward/Piner and Mary Isabell Piner/Ball/Johnson are the focus of my search. The two had a tumultuous relationship characterized by bouts of estrangement and reconciliation. No evidence exists of sexual assault in any of the cases, an unusual factor, Jared said. Address: 137 W. Robinson Road De Queen, AR 71832 Administrative Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Unsolved Cases We will post information regarding unsolved cases in Sevier County. Unsolved Murder Files; Unsolved Mystery Files; Legend Files; Suggested Cases; The Investigators; Contributing . Rumors swirled. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. 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. Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of. After serving in World War I, he returned home to Marion and began working at a utility plant. On June 9, 1995, Morgan Nick and her mother, Colleen Nick, went to a Little League baseball game in their town of Alma, Arkansas. Driftwood? It is literally the most comprehensive review of everything which has happened in that case that has been done.. But only nine months after Clinton won the White House, Parks was gunned down in West Little Rock. Crow at jdcrow@garlandcounty.org or call (501) 622-3751. The area where White was found is part of Hot Springs National Park and on federal land, resulting in both the National Park Service and FBI taking the lead on the investigation. Her possessions gave investigators little to work with. Days later, his truck was found in the woods just outside Marion. Dig deeper "Detectives have been working diligently on this case, but no arrests have been able to be made because of information lacking up to this point," he said. On Christmas Day 2020, shortly after 8 a.m., the body of Ethan Mathis, 18, of Hot Springs, was found in the 1400 block of Bald Mountain Road after deputies responded to a 911 call about a possible deceased person. The Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought a death sentence for the pair. The question on many residents' minds: were the two incidents linked? On April 30, shortly after 5 p.m., the body of Joseph Darnell Frazier, 48, of Hot Springs, was found in the 2500 block of Glazypeau Road. Leave them blank to get signed up. 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. He discovered that another elderly woman who had sold real estate to Horton had disappeared in 1969, in an apparently unrelated case. A litany of theories emerged as motives for the murder. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. 4. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. Bidding farewell to their new acquaintance who said he was on his way to, of all places, Nashville the two officers left. The victim was a young blonde, and she had been savagely beaten before being shot in the. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. "We've always kept this case open. .In his confession, the thief said he sold it whole to someone from Phoenix for $25,000, of which he received only $6000. Four days after Mathis was found, on Dec. 29, around 1:30 p.m., the bodies of Shaquilla Watts, 21, and her son, Zay'vion Watts, 5, were found inside their residence at Pebble Creek Apartments, 201 Wynn St. "It was determined both had been shot to death," Cpl. He claimed that his father had collected a file on Clinton's salacious activities and that he was subsequently executed because of its contents. I just have a feeling that a lot of murderers, at some pointthese [killers] told somebody, Jared said. The police have the man who did it, and he is indeed behind bars. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. Either way, the murders that took place in Arkansas left a mark on the state and made headlines in the news. Then Horton withdrew the fundsto send to Tex, the attorney told Bergeron, pursuant to a prearranged plan. Robert L. Tex Roberts wasperhaps still isan aging, eccentric, cigar-smoking millionaire. Since the case against the men depended on his testimony, charges had to be dismissed after his death. Love Arkansas? Investigators have exhausted nearly every lead in the case, yet Morgan's current whereabouts and condition remain unknown. "As long as they don't give up, I think there's hope.". We've shared with you 10 unexplained mysteries of Arkansas, but don't think it stops there. John Burnett was apprehended and hanged a month later in Fayeteville as well. "I can take it." 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 . These cases are still remembered by many Arkansanswhopray for justice. He finally sat down with the lead investigator on the case over a year ago and Jared said they hashed it out. Get more stories delivered right to your email. In most of the cases, authorities have made appeals to the public for help. In Japan, the willow represents ghosts. In Chinese culture, a willow branch can ward off evil spirits. Stephens did not return requests for comment for this story. A local business owner was hit with check fraud, her report to police said, after a check from her account for several thousand dollars was cashed in North Little Rock. When investigators arrived at the scene, they say Timothy Sharp began approaching from behind the house and he did not have a weapon. Ely has been distributing a flyer about the reward which includes a tip line, (501) 777-9805, and an email for tips at Ethan-Tips@protonmail.com. There was, in short, no apparent motive. Ted Hercutt, for example, said the SUV's airbags did not deploy,there were no skid marks at the scene and an electronic device in the Escalade showed it was going just 7 mph before it wrecked. Does a killer still roam free in Arkansas? The Little Rock Police Department dismissed such claims as "unsubstantiated". Too late, Farenthold decided that hed been conned and went to the police. And Nancy and her mother might be alive todaybut they arent. The indictment alleges that the four mentwo from Corpus Christi, two from Louisville, Kentuckyarranged, for Randy to buy Mafia skim money at a discount. 9.Arkansas' role in a global internet enigma. Thank you! 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. January 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. Ive got some expert analysis in that chapter of the new evidence that has come out. Sevier County Sheriff Monte Stringfellow says that they responded to a call at a home in the 300 block of Dogtown Road, just after 11 p.m. Thursday night. The organization's primary goals are to comfort parents of missing children, while also helping law enforcement find missing youngsters. Few reporters have covered as many murder cases with the passion of long-time journalist and author, George Jared. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. Authorities say the couple's 13 and 15 year old sons witnessed the shooting of their mother. Riggs' defense said she was suffering from depression and apparently did not want to have her children split up after her envisioned suicide. Some examples of the most gruesome murders which you can find on their list of unsolved murders include the 1998 abduction and murder of Brittany Locklear, the 2000 murder of Keke Jefferson-Moore, the 2001 murder of Michelle Howard, the 1992 murder of Tammy Zywicki, the 1994 murder of Melissa Witt, the 2017 murder of Brandi Seals, and the 1985

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