Her husband and her family are basically from Pocahontas, Jared said. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. More specifically, in Little Rock, Arkansas most populated city, in 2018 the homicide rate was 20.07 per 100,000 residents. Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. A lot of new witnesses and implications have come to the surface, Jared said. The first victims, Jimmy Hollis, 25, and Mary Jeanne Larey, 19, were attacked while parked at a local lovers' lane. Clinton associate murdered execution style. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. Your email address will not be published. The question on many residents' minds: were the two incidents linked? McCarter, the chief detective, would not releasethe initial report a decade after the crash. In 1987, Don Henry and his friend Kevin Ives were found dead in Bryant, Arkansas on the railroad tracks near their homes. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. After serving in World War I, he returned home to Marion and began working at a utility plant. Now, however, he is singing a different tune. Later that night, a large fire sprung up in parts of Pulaski, Lonoke, and Jefferson Counties. 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. Standing in the surf off Mustang Island, he looks for variety wherever he can find it, noting minute shifts in the tide, the direction of the current, the timing of the waves. After the discovery of her nude body in a dry creek bed, the medical examiner ruled . Some say it involves a motorcycle headlight, the remnant of a rider killed by a carload of drunk drivers. For much of the 20th century, the South was an inhospitable place for African Americans. This case, I had to use more anonymous sources because people didnt want to talk about it, Jared said. The one overwhelming fact of life is chance. woman accused of using aunts debit card for 136 DoorDash orders held on preset $18 million bond. The 40-year-old was a hardworking business owner, a loving sister and an incredible aunt to Penny's daughter. A litany of theories emerged as motives for the murder. The attempt effectively resulted in a lobotomy. Explore. SEVIER COUNTY, AR (KSLA) - For the second time this week, authorities say an Ark-La-Tex man has murdered his wife in their home. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. 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. 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. Susie Ward/Piner and Mary Isabell Piner/Ball/Johnson are the focus of my search. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. Days later, his truck was found in the woods just outside Marion. If you should happen to spot a short, muscular man with a long stride walking down the street with a screwdriver in his hand, wearing cheap rubber rain shoes and surgical gloves and possibly even a handsome piece of jewelry or two, Walter Fannin would like to hear from you. On Aug. 31, 1997, Garland County deputies found the bodies of 17-year-old Teela Hudson . 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. But he would like to. 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. And a decade later, the case remains unsolved. Packard stopped making automobiles in 1958, and garages willing to repair cars overnight vanished long ago. Category:Arkansas | Unsolved Mysteries Wiki | Fandom After waiting several hours for Roberts to return, Bergeron called the police. Huckabee's staff obliged, wiping the memory of more than 100 computers before smashing their hard drives beyond repair. AR man allegedly kills wife in front of sons, La. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Five famous cases the police may never mark closed.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the evening of March 9, 2000, a litany of Arkansans reported seeing "balls of fire" falling from the sky. Rector survived the surgery and was put on trial, his defense arguing that Rector was intellectually impaired and not competent to stand trial. The Hercutt family said a $45,000. It was one of many reported "airship" sightings that swept the country in the late 19th century. Another case, which Jared has been following for many years, is the murder of Amanda Tusing. Uncovered: Unsolved Arkansas 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. Born in 1895, Banks lived through Arkansas' ugliest years of racial bloodshe. 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. The Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints: 2021 Edition. Hercuttwouldn't have been out driving that late. Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at (501) 622-3660 or the criminal investigation division at (501) 622-3690. He owned several businesses, along with nearly 1,000 acres of land. Once confident of solving the case, they have lost their optimism with the years. Or their Packard might not have developed a noise in the motor just before they reached the Texas border citybut it did. The Springtime Jonquil Festival In Arkansas Thats Unlike Any Other, Spend A Magical Evening Savoring This Wine And Fondue Experience In Arkansas, Arkansas Oldest Drive-In Theater Is Hiding In A Small Town And Youll Want To Visit, Dine At The Historic Spot In Arkansas Where The Legendary Gangster Al Capone Drank Whiskey, These 11 Arkansas Murder Cases Made Headlines, The Story Of The Serial Killer Who Terrorized This Small Arkansas Town Is Truly Frightening, 9 True Arkansas Stories That Are Way Creepier Than The Clown Takeover, History Has Forgotten This Bizarre Arkansas Event From 50 Years Ago. 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. Police were able to track down the man responsible, James Roy McAlphin, and he's now in prison. Also, the Federal Bureau of Investigation releases a Uniform Crime Report every year which shows, in detail, the crimes, crime rates, and locations of crimes in every state, county, and city. The Springtime Jonquil Festival In Arkansas Thats Unlike Any Other, Spend A Magical Evening Savoring This Wine And Fondue Experience In Arkansas, Arkansas Oldest Drive-In Theater Is Hiding In A Small Town And Youll Want To Visit, Dine At The Historic Spot In Arkansas Where The Legendary Gangster Al Capone Drank Whiskey, 15 Movies You Probably Didnt Know Were Filmed In Arkansas, The Story Of The Serial Killer Who Terrorized This Small Arkansas Town Is Truly Frightening, History Has Forgotten This Bizarre Arkansas Event From 50 Years Ago, Not Many Folks Remember The Dark Tale Of The Arkansas Assassin. She was last seen at 10:45 p.m. by her friends, emptying sand out of her shoes at her mother's car. "We've heard numerous things," Giles said. Following a successful decision in 2010 by the Arkansas Supreme Court regarding newly produced DNA evidence, the West Memphis Three negotiated a plea bargain with prosecutors. 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. Why these two cities were chosen among some of the more exotic locations, which include Seattle, New Orleans, London, Tokyo, and Paris, is unclear. "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. Susie m. Isaac Piner. 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. 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. While most of the stories share similar motifs, the legend seems to have emanated from a report published in 1980. Remnants of a sunken ship? Dr. Doug [], JONESBORO, Ark. Rumors swirled. These 11 Arkansas Murder Cases Made Headlines - OnlyInYourState None of his relatives would claim the body, and he was buried in a pauper's grave. Arkansas murderers list | Murderpedia Uncovered: Unsolved Murders By State "I'll be seeing and hearing gunshots over there," said Arbor. Usually, its a quiet whisper because you dont want anyone to know you committed this horrible heinous crime.. 6720, he said. Detectives meet regularly with prosecutors to go over the case, McCarter said, and DNA evidence was recently resubmitted to the state crime labfor testing. As of June, a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever killed Mathis. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! That autopsy found Hercutt suffered headinjuries she couldn't possibly have sustained in the crash. If youre interested in learning about both solved and unsolved Pulaski County murders, you can find information regarding many Pulaski County murders trial with a simple search, and often times you can find all of the crime scene information if the case is solved. 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. Kizer said the case is still active "on our end," but the case file has been turned over to the prosecutor's office for review. In old interviews, Ted Hercutt openly acknowledged his status as a suspect but consistently denied any involvement. However, after hearing conflicting testimony, Rector was ruled competent to stand trial. If you enjoy coverage like this, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it. Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of. (It was still working.) That may have been why somein the community grew to suspect the father had a hand in his daughter's killing. 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. 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. The blaze scorched a path one mile long and 150-feet wide. 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. MCSO Most Wanted - Arkansas She and her husband were getting divorced and she vanished a few weeks after filing. (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.) Since her disappearance, Colleen Nick has founded the Morgan Nick Foundation, which helps parents cope with the disappearances of children. So when authorities found her body inside her crashed SUV at the bottom of a steep slope off Walker Trail 10 years ago on Saturday they quickly ruled her deathan accident. And we still have some of those here today.". The Little Rock Police Department dismissed such claims as "unsubstantiated". Rector then shot himself in the head in a suicide attempt. $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. 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. The long-time reporter told NEA Report his book title has meaning in correlation with a lot of the cases in the book, especially the three unsolved murder cases. In January 2007, outgoing Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee made a peculiar request of his staff: destroy the office computers. Patrol - Sevier County Sheriff, AR 4. The exact cause of death in Frazier's case has not been released. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. All of the links in this post refer back to the author's references. Murder Mystery: Most Likely To Be Murdered Part 2. (KTHV) - We've shared with you 10 unexplained mysteries of Arkansas, but don't think it stops there. Despite the fact that Horton had a document giving him power of attorney, no Dallas bank would negotiate the transactions. Her case received assistance from the FBI, was the subject of several television specials, and inspired her mother to establish the Morgan Nick Foundation. But subtle clues soon tipped off her loved ones that there was more to the story. 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. Rector was convicted on both counts and sentenced to death. 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. Phone: (870) 642-2125 (24 Hours) Emergency: Dial 911. Bring on the Shiplap? Jesse Millinger disappeared early in the year of 1903 and had not been heard of since. 1. Vance was reportedly a fan of Pressly, and was a frequent viewer of her morning news show. "She was a hardworking lady. 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. The victim was a young blonde, and she had been savagely beaten before being shot in the. Even the desert itself is different, a victim of the encroaching city and land developers. 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. Too late, Farenthold decided that hed been conned and went to the police. Dawn Shannon Hercutt's bizarre killing remains unsolved a decade later Two months later, her skeletal remains were found in a cemetery near her home. 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. The fence supposedly got it out of the country through Chicago. Robbery certainly had to be considered; there was no money on the corpse, but there was an expensive waterproof wristwatch. They may have information. 21 years after Arkansas couple found dead, authorities seeking answers Travis Dorman covers crime, breaking news and law enforcement. The primary focus is on victims Rebekah Gould, Karen Johnson Swift, and Amanda Tusing. 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. 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 couple's son's are now in the custody of relatives. Noted now for being an obsolete method of execution, death by electrocution is still a legal secondary execution practice in Arkansas. After her children were dead, Riggs unsuccessfully attempted suicide. Giles says they're still working to pinpoint a motive in the case. In the nearly 20 years since her disappearance, Morgan's story has gained national attention. He discovered that another elderly woman who had sold real estate to Horton had disappeared in 1969, in an apparently unrelated case. 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. Name: Date: Victims: Location : B: Charles Jason BALDWIN: May 5, 1993: 3 ? Investigators say the Sevier's parents turned them in after being contacted by police. 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. Nevertheless, the handwriting expert (using copies) testified that Roberts signatures were, in his opinion, not genuine. Authorities have always been tight-lipped about the details of thecase. "Boys, I'm not afraid," he was reported as saying when guards strapped him in and fastened the electrodes. Billie Jean Phillips She was murdered in her Madison County home on September 2, 1994. 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. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office, he insisted, has not forgotten about the killing. 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. He asked to be put in touch with Tex personally, but Horton insisted on protecting his clients strict request for secrecy. We believe the more resources we can provide to digital volunteers and citizen solvers mean more citizen detective communities. Blood samples taken from the bathroom were later lost by WMPD investigators before the WM3 went to trial. Over the years, 7,797 of those murders were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved murders in Arkansas today. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. When a case goes cold its especially haunting to remember that there are actual people out there either waiting for their stories to be told or desperately trying to hide a secret from the world. The story did little to dispel the rumors, though. For Fannin is chief of detectives for the Dallas police force and the short, stocky man is the King of Diamonds, the most daringand most successfuljewel thief ever to operate in Dallas. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continue to work on the cases, which date from the last week of 2020 through . Bergeron looked at the familiar signature again and decided it didnt look quite right. Bojangles." Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. 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. 9 years later, Shannon Hercutt homicide in Sevier County remains unsolved "We've always kept this case open. Example video title will go here for this video. It began on the night of August 15, 1970, when Roberts, whose real name wasnt Robertshe was born Leroy Seviersummoned his friend and bodyguard Al Bergeron concerning a matter of utmost importance. After finishing some personal business, Bergeron went to the mansion. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office confirmed Thursday there was nothing new in the case to report and the investigation is ongoing. Police assume he cut it up into little pieces (greatly reducing its value) and kept it. The Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought a death sentence for the pair. The book also delves into Arkansas death row, which made it back into the news in 2017. She lived alone on East Milford Haven Drive outside Sevierville,and she never married or had children. Address: 137 W. Robinson Road De Queen, AR 71832. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were 9,951 murders in Arkansas. The only evidence left behind were 10 9-mm bullet casings scattered on the pavement. Judge David Laser accepted the pleas and sentenced the three to time served. Maybe somebody knows something who just can't talk about it right now, but down the road they may. - A poem titled "New Lite" sparks memories of an old, dark secret. The real Wick claimed she didn't know the victim. Special Report: Plans to exhume 1977 Arkansas murder victim's - FOX16 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. Get more stories delivered right to your email. 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. On the night of the fire, local authorities were besieged by reports of the fireballs in the sky. In his newest book, Whispers in the Willows, Jared explores three unsolved murder cases hes covered throughout the years, and more. Still the curious account from a local TV reporter lingers more than a decade later. 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. Public Domain/Wikimedia. 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. All rights reserved. Volume 1. . Until then, natives of the Natural State will remain haunted by these unsolved mysteries. 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. 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. No evidence exists of sexual assault in any of the cases, an unusual factor, Jared said. Get more stories delivered right to your email. But Jim Parsons is determined to solve the mystery. Karen Johnson Swift, a mother of four, went missing. The McFarlin family gave the 49.2 carat stone to the Witte two years later, where it was prominently displayed as the McFarlin diamond. As for the police, they too have changed. Theres a possibility that a law officer may have been involved in her murder.. 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. Thank you! Madewell recalled drivingbackto Sevier County from Ohio the day after Hercutt's death on Aug. 3, 2009. Timothy Sharp is in the Sevier County Jail on a first degree murder charge. But in 1897, two Arkansas lawmen allegedly had a face-to-face encounter with a UFO and its pilot. 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. The case remains unsolved and is 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.