Someone likely killed her at her home, detectives determined, then placed her body in her SUV and sent it tumbling off an embankment near some rental cabins she owned. Both women had been shotbut by different guns. Despite being terribly beaten, the two survived. [ Feb 15, 2023 ] Two severe crashes in Greene County Crime [ Feb 15 , 2023 . A quick search for Arkansas serial killers will result in a short list of serial killers in Arkansas, some of whom are lesser known, and others who are considered to be famous Arkansas serial killers. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. Robbery certainly had to be considered; there was no money on the corpse, but there was an expensive waterproof wristwatch. The transaction, according to the indictment, was to have taken place in a Houston motel room, but just as the exchange was about to begin, the group was held up and robbed by a menaced man brandishing a shotgun. The objective of this department is to serve the Public within our jurisdiction, to enforce laws, investigate crimes and do our best to solve these crimes and to protect the citizens of Sevier County as LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. Other evidence revealed that the victim briefly lived in Shreveport, La. In recent years, DNA technology has led to hundreds, if not thousands, of decades-old cold cases being solved, and Arkansas is not the exception. 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. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. On May 24, shortly before 12:30 p.m., a shooting was reported at 234 Adcock Road. But in 1897, two Arkansas lawmen allegedly had a face-to-face encounter with a UFO and its pilot. Explore. "She was a well-kept lady.". No one has ever been charged in any of the three aforementioned cases. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. 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. "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. 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. Sheriff Stringfellow adds, "Oh yes, we've had several restraining orders, but the couple would somehow makeup.". She lived alone on East Milford Haven Drive outside Sevierville,and she never married or had children. The hammer he used to shatter the display case, but the lawn chair had a much more elaborate function. Adding another twist in the case, Gary was recently charged with the murder of his mother's new husband, David Millstein. 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. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. as well as Little Rock. And we still have some of those here today.". 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. (The independent Roberts kept no servants.) The Sevier County Sheriff's Office, he insisted, has not forgotten about the killing. Unsolved murder cases involving three women are the focus of the new book which was just released Friday, Aug 16. . She had an Arkansas ID with the name "Cheryl Ann Wick," a Bible with various names scribbled inside, and a litany of items from a handful of restaurants in Virginia Beach. 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. Cherry was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but upon appeal of his conviction, his sentenced was reduced to 30 years. After serving 18 years in prison, Echols, along with the two other suspects, Jessie Miskelley, Jr. and Jason Baldwin subsequently dubbed the West Memphis Three were released per the controversial Alford Plea in 2011. The West Memphis Three: Arkansas's most controversial murder case involves three men who were tried and convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three eight-year old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in West Memphis, Arkansas. The McFarlin family gave the 49.2 carat stone to the Witte two years later, where it was prominently displayed as the McFarlin diamond. Now the bodyguard began to investigate in earnest. The book also delves into Arkansas death row, which made it back into the news in 2017. 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. The reason behind the frenzied housecleaning has never been fully explained. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sumpter and McLemore's account isn't without precedent. Hercutt's father, Ted, was strong-willed, too. Jesse Millinger disappeared early in the year of 1903 and had not been heard of since. 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. Judge David Laser accepted the pleas and sentenced the three to time served. A third possibility caught the attention of the FBI, which entered the case to investigate a possible obstruction of justice. Authorities ask anyone with information in the case to call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office at865-453-4668 or 865-428-1899. 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. Person or Persons Responsible for the Death of Billy Jean Phillips. On April 17, 1905, an African-American levee worker named John Barnett was hanged by a black mob near Askew (Lee County) for allegedly murdering a fellow worker. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Authorities say the couple's 13 and 15 year old sons witnessed the shooting of their mother. But an Amarillo bank did, and Horton converted the securities into cash, transferring the proceeds into his own commercial accounts. The Democrat-Gazette ran a follow-up story about a week later. Madewell recalled drivingbackto Sevier County from Ohio the day after Hercutt's death on Aug. 3, 2009. Other friends had also received similar cards, Bergeron learnedall with the addresses typed. However, this neat package overlooks one minor. Their hangings were reportedly well attended. 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. Willow trees are another deliberate choice Jared made to include in the book. Bring on the Shiplap? When he finally surfaced, the Dallas DAs office mysteriously lost interest in the case and agreed to a probated sentence. SEVIERVILLE At first glance, it looked like Dawn Shannon Hercutt went for a late-night drive, veered off the roadand plummeted 125 feet to her death. He lived withand perhaps still lives withan older female companion, Jessie Forsyth. These cases that involve Arkansas have yet to be solved and victims have yet to see justice. On June 4, 1968, while the museum was open to the public, a thief smashed the display case and snatched the jewel. Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. 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 . Get more stories delivered right to your email. Your email address will not be published. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were around 9,951 murders in Arkansas alone. Some unsolved murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, include the 1989 murder of Anita Shell, the 2015 murder of Ebby Steppach, and the 1993 murder of Jerry Parks, among many others. Susie m. Isaac Piner. On June 25, 1990, Simmons died by the method he had chosen, lethal injection. Born in 1895, Banks lived through Arkansas' ugliest years of racial bloodshe. woman accused of using aunts debit card for 136 DoorDash orders held on preset $18 million bond. Crow at jdcrow@garlandcounty.org or call (501) 622-3751. I just have a feeling that a lot of murderers, at some pointthese [killers] told somebody, Jared said. Once confident of solving the case, they have lost their optimism with the years. The paper reported that authorities hadn't yet found the precise cause of the fire, but were convinced it wasn't connected to the "meteors." The cars spare tire had no inner tube; perhaps the Fromes had stopped to fix a flat tire, only to encounter a not-so-good Samaritan. None of his relatives would claim the body, and he was buried in a pauper's grave. 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. JONESBORO, Ark. Although many of Arkansas cold cases will or have remained cold for decades, and often times run completely out of leads as tips run out, there have been countless Arkansas cold cases solved and Arkansas murders solved in the past few years thanks to technological advancements as well as advancements in DNA technology. He finally sat down with the lead investigator on the case over a year ago and Jared said they hashed it out. He was serving a 40 year state sentence for armed robbery and narcotics violations and an additional 30 year federal sentence for kidnapping and airplane hijacking. Her body was found in a nearby ditch. Usually, its a quiet whisper because you dont want anyone to know you committed this horrible heinous crime.. Days later, his truck was found in the woods just outside Marion. And yet another account says drivers pick up a young girl asking for a ride home. The case remains unsolved and is shrouded in mystery. Valuable jewelry had been ignored. After trekking through the woods, they eventually found the source of the light. No evidence exists of sexual assault in any of the cases, an unusual factor, Jared said. Some would argue, however, that not all of these cases were properly handled or the criminals involved truly got what they truly deserved. Parks was leaving El Chico when he was ambushed by two men in a white Chevrolet Caprice at the intersection of Chenal and Highway 10, where witnesses say the men shot Parks to death before speeding away. Isadore Banks grew up in that era of oppression. "We've heard numerous things," Giles said. Usually, its a quiet whisper because you dont want anyone to know you committed this horrible heinous crime.. Her possible birthday is 22Jun1862--d. 1936 around Grenola, KS. "She was a hardworking lady. Anyone with information about White or her death, "no matter how insignificant it may seem," is asked to contact the National Park Service. 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. The King reaped so much publicity he became an inspiration for lesser thieves, who attempted to emulate him without success. The police have the man who did it, and he is indeed behind bars. The man in the rain shoes is not Fannins long-lost rich uncle (though he is rich); indeed, Fannin doesnt even know his name. 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. It worked. Two months later, her skeletal remains were found in a cemetery near her home. The telling of the story varies wildly. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. In most of the cases, authorities have made appeals to the public for help. There's just something that comes together at some point, and I truly believe that it will here, too. 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. However, a local witness claims that he saw two police officers beating two boys senseless in a store parking lot before tossing them into a truck and driving away. 4. Investigators have exhausted nearly every lead in the case, yet Morgan's current whereabouts and condition remain unknown. 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. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. The report was []. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? Rector was convicted on both counts and sentenced to death. Due to the size and population of Little Rock, Arkansas, murders are more common there than in most other cities in Arkansas. Penny Stephens said she went to her sister's house after the killing and sawa baseball bat, blood on the outside refrigerator and two busted bottles of alcohol onthe floor. 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 One caller even told the Jefferson County sheriff's department that he saw a mushroom cloud-like explosion in the vicinity of the fire. Even Rudolf Nureyev would have difficulty performing such a feat. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know," the release said. Arkansas, USA : C : Hoyt Franklin CLINES March 25, 1981: 1: Arkansas, USA : Johnie Michael . The Cortez Hotel, where Hazel and Nancy Frome spent their last five nights, booked its final guest in 1970; it has been converted into a Job Corps center. Address: 137 W. Robinson Road De Queen, AR 71832. Despite the fact that Horton had a document giving him power of attorney, no Dallas bank would negotiate the transactions. An El Paso truck driver reported seeing a black sedan following the Packard early on the afternoon of the murders; several hours later the two cars passed him going the opposite direction, followed closely by a third car with mysterious markings on the side. ", Mathis' aunt, Misty Ely, told the newspaper Mathis had gone to a friend's house on Christmas Eve but left around 11 p.m. and it was unknown what happened to him between then and Christmas morning. Murder Mystery: Most Likely To Be Murdered Part 2. 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. The gem once belonged to the Maharajah of Mahratta in the Gujarat region of India. 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. - A poem titled "New Lite" sparks memories of an old, dark secret. 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. Another case, which Jared has been following for many years, is the murder of Amanda Tusing. Simmons was charged with 16 counts of murder, found guilty, and sentenced to death. Most of these recent Little Rock murders have not been solved, and law enforcement continues to investigate their homicides. Later that night, a large fire sprung up in parts of Pulaski, Lonoke, and Jefferson Counties. The attempt effectively resulted in a lobotomy. "I'll be seeing and hearing gunshots over there," said Arbor. 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. Police said they've interviewed hundreds of people, but no useful leads have turned up. A local black coalition offered a $1,000 reward to anyone with information, but no one came forward. 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 . Morgan's friends told police that they saw her talking to a "creepy" man. 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. She noted it was a mystery what he was doing in that area of the county and she believes he was "either taken out there and murdered or dumped.". 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. 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. The Packard was found abandoned 56 miles east of the spot where the bodies were discovered. 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. On November 11, 2009, Vance was convicted of capital murder, residential burglary, rape, and theft of property. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Still the curious account from a local TV reporter lingers more than a decade later. Or Farenthold, who was known to gamble for high stakes, might have been killed because he failed to cover his tosses. Noted now for being an obsolete method of execution, death by electrocution is still a legal secondary execution practice in Arkansas. Either way, the murders that took place in Arkansas left a mark on the state and made headlines in the news. Unsolved Murder Files; Unsolved Mystery Files; Legend Files; Suggested Cases; The Investigators; Contributing . On June 9, 1995, Morgan Nick and her mother, Colleen Nick, went to a Little League baseball game in their town of Alma, Arkansas. Police believe she was abducted before she was tossed in the ditch. There are rumors of an unidentified figure in military fatigues loitering in the area before the train ran over Kevin and Don. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. "911. "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. Next Horton tried to cash Roberts ample holdings of stocks and bonds. Lavinia and her husband were sentenced to death in October 1845. Chitwood decided a court of inquiry was necessary, and Judge Dee Brown Walker agreed. On June 9, 1995, Morgan Nick and her mother, Colleen Nick, went to a Little League baseball game in their town of Alma, Arkansas. Now, however, he is singing a different tune. In the nearly 20 years since her disappearance, Morgan's story has gained national attention. Authorities in Arkansas are seeking information in a double homicide that has remained unsolved for 21 years. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. Riggs' defense said she was suffering from depression and apparently did not want to have her children split up after her envisioned suicide. She would'veworn her seat belt. Then in January 1971, Bergeron received a Christmas card from Tex which had been mailed from Homer, Louisiana (population 4483), located near the Arkansas border. 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. Bidding farewell to their new acquaintance who said he was on his way to, of all places, Nashville the two officers left. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Susie Ward/Piner and Mary Isabell Piner/Ball/Johnson are the focus of my search. Some say it involves a motorcycle headlight, the remnant of a rider killed by a carload of drunk drivers. Hercuttwouldn't have been out driving that late. Hercutt's family fell apart as accusations flew.