The 38-year law enforcement veteran believes investigators have nailed down the motive but said, "If I told you what it was, it'd be obvious who I was talking about.". 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. That autopsy found Hercutt suffered headinjuries she couldn't possibly have sustained in the crash. 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. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime communitytogether we can do better. This serial killer who made a wrong turn into the Natural State found his way back to Illinois and was sentenced consecutively to a total of 500 years in prison in Illinois in 1971. The inquiry was hampered from the start when Horton was assaulted in the courthouse parking garage; his briefcase, containing important documents including the original power of attorney, was stolen. A Randall County grand jury also indicted the lawyer for converting common stock to his own benefit. Even Rudolf Nureyev would have difficulty performing such a feat. The police have the man who did it, and he is indeed behind bars. Rector was convicted on both counts and sentenced to death. All rights reserved. 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. Jjesus Anaya, a Hot Springs Police Department public information officer, told the newspaper on Nov. 30, while appealing to the public for help in the almost year-old case. 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. MCSO Notable - Arkansas Authorities have always been tight-lipped about the details of thecase. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were around 9,951 murders in Arkansas alone. He said he once received a phone call with no caller ID; someone breathed the word "murderer," then hung up. He found the usually locked front door ajar but no one home. The real Wick claimed she didn't know the victim. Hercuttwouldn't have been out driving that late. 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. Her husband and her family are basically from Pocahontas, Jared said. "We've always kept this case open. Murder Mystery: Most Likely To Be Murdered Part 2. Her possessions gave investigators little to work with. A CLOSER LOOK: 4 Arkansas missing person cases. Gone but not forgotten Chip Gaines Bought Larry McMurtrys Historic Texas Bookstore. By the late 1940s, he had amassed a small fortune. In January 1975, Carolyn Dianne Zachry of Ashdown paid two men (the exact amount is in dispute) to kill her husband -- the men took Curtis Eugene Zachry to a remote location under the pretense of. Tommy Sevier, Jr., age 25, and Samantha Sevier, age 19, both of Texarkana, Arkansas are each charged with two counts of capital murder. Email him at travis.dorman@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @travdorman. 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 two had a tumultuous relationship characterized by bouts of estrangement and reconciliation. Today (Friday, August 16) is the official release date for Jareds new book. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know," the release said. Clinton associate murdered execution style. IZARD COUNTY, Ark. He finally sat down with the lead investigator on the case over a year ago and Jared said they hashed it out. [ Feb 15, 2023 ] Two severe crashes in Greene County Crime [ Feb 15 , 2023 . Moreover, witnesses who originally testified against the trio later said they were pressured by law enforcement officials to do so. The local Packard garage might have had the necessary parts to repair the carbut it had to order them and wait five days instead. It's unknown whether or not they were Kevin and Don. Crystal Sharp's body has been sent to Little Rock, Arkansas for an autopsy. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. Since her disappearance, Colleen Nick has founded the Morgan Nick Foundation, which helps parents cope with the disappearances of children. (The independent Roberts kept no servants.) The FBI maintains that Banks' case is one of many unsolved civil rights-era cases that it is still investigating. 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. "Yes the son called and told us that their dad had shot their mama," said Stringfellow. She would'veworn her seat belt. 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. 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. Miller county sheriff's deputies have charged a brother and sisterwith the murdersof two Texarkana men who's bodies were found inside a charred car. However, if you are looking for unsolved case information, it is unlikely that you will be able to easily find Pulaski County murders evidence or Pulaski County murders crime scene photos until the case goes to trial. Unsolved Cases - Sevier County Sheriff, AR Once inside, deputies found Crystal Sharp in the house with gunshot wounds to the head and face. He chronicles those experiences and cases, too. 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. A lot of new witnesses and implications have come to the surface, Jared said. Get more stories delivered right to your email. But an Amarillo bank did, and Horton converted the securities into cash, transferring the proceeds into his own commercial accounts. And we still have some of those here today.". There was, in short, no apparent motive. 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. as well as Little Rock. Roten checked in with other districts all across the state, but the only two incidents appeared to come from Little Rock. And she never would havehad a window down. Theres a possibility that a law officer may have been involved in her murder.. 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. Sep 16, 2019 NEA . Additional Arkansas unsolved murders include unsolved murders Little Rock, Arkansas, including the 1989 murder of Anita Shell, the 2015 murder of Ebby Steppach, and the 1993 murder of Jerry Parks, among many others. Patrol - Sevier County Sheriff, AR Despite this, the many different law enforcement agencies in Arkansas will never stop trying to solve all of Arkansas true crimes, and seeking justice for the victims. Your email address will not be published. From 1956 to 1966 a cat burglar heisted more than $1 million in jewels from palatial homes in north Dallas and the Park Cities. Dawn Shannon Hercutt's bizarre killing remains unsolved a decade later So what's all this got to do with Arkansas? Hailing from Forrest City, Arkansas, Larry Porter Chism is wanted by the United States Marshals for charges related to his escape from the Lonoke County Jail in the December of 1978. 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. Simmons was charged with 16 counts of murder, found guilty, and sentenced to death. 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. Fannin has been looking for him, unsuccessfully, for almost twenty years. According to Arkansas investigators, she told her friends she was originally from Florida. Hot Springs authorities continue investigating unsolved homicides from Next Horton tried to cash Roberts ample holdings of stocks and bonds. 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. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki. After the body was initially found, it was sent to the state crime lab where positive identification was later made on May 11. MCSO Most Wanted - Arkansas Another case, which Jared has been following for many years, is the murder of Amanda Tusing. These cases are still remembered by many Arkansanswhopray for justice. 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. One year later, a robber arrested in Kingsville for a different offense confessed to stealing the diamond. The man in the rain shoes is not Fannins long-lost rich uncle (though he is rich); indeed, Fannin doesnt even know his name. He lived withand perhaps still lives withan older female companion, Jessie Forsyth. Huckabee's staff obliged, wiping the memory of more than 100 computers before smashing their hard drives beyond repair. He claimed to have sauntered into the Witte carrying a lawn chair and a concealed hammer. Police interrogated more than 3000 persons, from highway travelers to narcotics addicts, all to no avail. 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. The Little Rock Police Department dismissed such claims as "unsubstantiated". Authorities in Arkansas are seeking information in a double homicide that has remained unsolved for 21 years. 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. Detectives meet regularly with prosecutors to go over the case, McCarter said, and DNA evidence was recently resubmitted to the state crime labfor testing. These 11 Arkansas Murder Cases Made Headlines - OnlyInYourState It is literally the most comprehensive review of everything which has happened in that case that has been done.. into the stories you've heard before, and encounter many others you haven't, in ways that actually help. Anyone with information regarding Frazier's death is asked to email sheriff's Investigator J.D. Jesse Millinger disappeared early in the year of 1903 and had not been heard of since. 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. Remnants of a sunken ship? Some of the cases only hope of being solved lie in the hands and on the conscious of potential witnesses. Jared said his book also has chapters that include other cases, too. (KTHV) - We've shared with you 10 unexplained mysteries of Arkansas, but don't think it stops there. Tommy Sevier, Jr., age 25, and Samantha Sevier, age 19, both of Texarkana, Arkansas are each charged with two counts of capital murder.On February 16th, hunters found the bodies of Patrick Dickey, 22, and Billy Drumm, 32, both of Texarkana, inside a charred vehicle on a hunting lease in Doddridge. 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 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. Judge David Laser accepted the pleas and sentenced the three to time served. Since the case against the men depended on his testimony, charges had to be dismissed after his death. Approaching with their guns drawn, a bearded man emerged from the forest and told them that he and his crew were travelling the country in an "airship". This date marked the first woman executed in Arkansas since 1845. He made impossible, Topkapi-like entrances through seemingly inaccessible windows and slipped away unobserved on all but one occasion. Thank you! In old interviews, Ted Hercutt openly acknowledged his status as a suspect but consistently denied any involvement. He took only womens jewelryand only the best pieces at that, never costume jewelry and never ordinary items like pearls. The following day, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. "She was a hardworking lady. Chitwood decided a court of inquiry was necessary, and Judge Dee Brown Walker agreed. The question on many residents' minds: were the two incidents linked? Travis Dorman covers crime, breaking news and law enforcement. Valuable jewelry had been ignored. Investigators said the case remains under investigation. Some say it involves a motorcycle headlight, the remnant of a rider killed by a carload of drunk drivers. Even the desert itself is different, a victim of the encroaching city and land developers. He asked to be put in touch with Tex personally, but Horton insisted on protecting his clients strict request for secrecy. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. Jared takes a deep personal interest in these cases and others he covers, often becoming close with the family of the victims. "I know you have paid someone to kill Shannon," Penny Stephens told Ted Hercutt, his mouth agape. Ted Hercutt, his then-wife and his other daughter, Penny Stephens,were vacationing some 380 miles awayin Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, when authorities respondingto an alert from Shannon Hercutt'sOnStar safety system found her dead inside her SUV. Uncovered: Unsolved Arkansas Murders In Japan, the willow represents ghosts. In Chinese culture, a willow branch can ward off evil spirits. It was September 27, 2004, when the family of 22-year-old Rebekah Gould received the news they were not hoping to hear - her body was discovered in a ditch, bludgeoned to . Person or Persons Responsible for the Death of Billy Jean Phillips. Authorities ask anyone with information in the case to call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office at865-453-4668 or 865-428-1899. Two months later, her skeletal remains were found in a cemetery near her home. Bergeron looked at the familiar signature again and decided it didnt look quite right. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. Explore. Madewell recalled drivingbackto Sevier County from Ohio the day after Hercutt's death on Aug. 3, 2009. Public Domain/Wikimedia. But he would like to. After her children were dead, Riggs unsuccessfully attempted suicide. Police were summoned to the scene, but officers took the report via the drive-thru window and never entered the building to interview the suspect. He never cracked a safe but simply lifted the goods from a bathroom dressing table. 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. At first, her mother was uncertain, but eventually let her go. After waiting several hours for Roberts to return, Bergeron called the police. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. She was last seen chasing fireflies with her friends on the outskirts of the ball fields. Both women had been savagely beaten and choked; in addition, a large piece of flesh had been bitten from Mrs. Fromes arm and Nancys body was marred by cigarette burns. 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. He refused to appeal his death sentence. The local police quickly rushed to the conclusion, claiming the boys had died from a drug overdose on the tracks. Despite being terribly beaten, the two survived. .In his confession, the thief said he sold it whole to someone from Phoenix for $25,000, of which he received only $6000. The lawmen at the scene, he said,did not go down the embankment to view his daughter's body.