February 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? 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. Some of the most famous Arkansas murders that made and remained in headline news for an extended period of time, and are still considered some notorious Arkansas criminals, include former NFL player Raphel Cherry, who killed his wife in 1999; Curtis Vance, who murdered popular news anchor Anne Pressley in 2008; and Christina Riggs, who killed her two young children in 1997, among many other Arkansas famous murders. Johnson was released on his 21st birthday, August 11, 2005, having spent seven years in prison. 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. It was one of many reported "airship" sightings that swept the country in the late 19th century. 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. ", 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. He also consulted a handwriting expert and Paul Chitwood, an attorney who had previously done legal work for Roberts. Here are 10 more mysteries to explore. Further complicating the case was the mysterious "Mr. Few reporters have covered as many murder cases with the passion of long-time journalist and author, George Jared. A brutal lynching leaves unanswered questions. The gem once belonged to the Maharajah of Mahratta in the Gujarat region of India. The Sevier County medical examiner did not respond to a request that he release the autopsy report. Your email address will not be published. Main Page; Discuss; All Pages; Community; Interactive Maps; Recent Blog Posts; Netflix series. "Boys, I'm not afraid," he was reported as saying when guards strapped him in and fastened the electrodes. 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. 1. Phone: (870) 642-2125 (24 Hours) Emergency: Dial 911. Does a killer still roam free in Arkansas? 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. 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. One year later, a robber arrested in Kingsville for a different offense confessed to stealing the diamond. Due to the size and population of Little Rock, Arkansas, murders are more common there than in most other cities in Arkansas. 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. Later that night, a large fire sprung up in parts of Pulaski, Lonoke, and Jefferson Counties. Riggs requested the death penalty and her wish was fulfilled on April 30, 2000. 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. Some say it involves a motorcycle headlight, the remnant of a rider killed by a carload of drunk drivers. Susie Ward/Piner and Mary Isabell Piner/Ball/Johnson are the focus of my search. After the body was initially found, it was sent to the state crime lab where positive identification was later made on May 11. A-State Announces 2017 Spring Graduation List, JPD: One arrested after downtown crowd gets out of hand, Two teens arrested in Jonesboro shootings, Sheriff investigating raw sewage dumped in Izard County, Suspect breaks into home and refuses to come out: JPD, Report: Male assaulted, shot at in Jonesboro. Their hangings were reportedly well attended. A third possibility caught the attention of the FBI, which entered the case to investigate a possible obstruction of justice. This case immediately caught national attention when three teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelly Jr., and Jason Baldwin, were arrested and charged with the murders of the three young boys, with the killings being portrayed as being a part of a Satanic ritual. The latest murder happened in DeQueen, Arkansas. However, this neat package overlooks one minor detail: a flawless emerald-cut canary diamond that was worth $365,000 when it disappeared from its case in the museum eight years ago. There were, however, plenty of clues. James Hendricks and Kimberlin Mills (known as Jimmy and Kim respectively) are American murder victims who were discovered on June 17, 1978. Bergeronwho knew he was a major beneficiary under his friends willdidnt quite know what to think about Hortons assurances that Tex was getting the money. On the night of the fire, local authorities were besieged by reports of the fireballs in the sky. Crime Tips HOTline (870) 642-2125 or Submit Via Email. On . She and her husband were getting divorced and she vanished a few weeks after filing. 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. He discovered that another elderly woman who had sold real estate to Horton had disappeared in 1969, in an apparently unrelated case. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. She had also been arrested in Texas under the aliases "Cheryl Wick," "Kelly Carr/Karr," "Sharon Wiley," and "Mercedes.". I just have a feeling that a lot of murderers, at some pointthese [killers] told somebody, Jared said. But only nine months after Clinton won the White House, Parks was gunned down in West Little Rock. 9.Arkansas' role in a global internet enigma. 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. "And don't sit there and act like you're so innocent.". Now the bodyguard began to investigate in earnest. Authorities found Banks' body not far from his vehicle, mutilated and tied to a tree. Much of the publicly available information has come from family members and remains independently unconfirmed. Nevertheless, the handwriting expert (using copies) testified that Roberts signatures were, in his opinion, not genuine. This Cold Case remains unsolved. Sep 16, 2019 NEA . 2. Love Arkansas? Thank you! At first, her mother was uncertain, but eventually let her go. into the stories you've heard before, and encounter many others you haven't, in ways that actually help. The FBI maintains that Banks' case is one of many unsolved civil rights-era cases that it is still investigating. "Yes the son called and told us that their dad had shot their mama," said Stringfellow. AR man allegedly kills wife in front of sons, La. From the name on the ID, authorities found that the deceased had stolen the identity of a Cheryl Ann Wick in Minnesota. 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. Andy Taylor and Barney Fife meet Spock and Captain Kirk? He died in 196830 years after Hazel and Nancy Frome. He found the usually locked front door ajar but no one home. The Sharp's neighbor, Lisa Arbor can see their home from her front yard, but says although she's shocked, she's not surprised. They were released with ten-year suspended sentences, having served 18 years and 78 days in prison. Hobbs had a history of child abuse and was reportedly the last person seen with three boys. Maybe somebody knows something who just can't talk about it right now, but down the road they may. On the evening of March 9, 2000, a litany of Arkansans reported seeing "balls of fire" falling from the sky. todaysthv.com. Some of those chapters chronicle Holocaust survivors that Jared interviewed throughout the years. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Stephens did not return requests for comment for this story. Investigators say the Sevier's parents turned them in after being contacted by police. As of this writing, however, the latest mention of this story dates back to late 2011. He claimed that his father had collected a file on Clinton's salacious activities and that he was subsequently executed because of its contents. The police have the man who did it, and he is indeed behind bars. The first victims, Jimmy Hollis, 25, and Mary Jeanne Larey, 19, were attacked while parked at a local lovers' lane. On June 9, 1995, Morgan Nick and her mother, Colleen Nick, went to a Little League baseball game in their town of Alma, Arkansas. 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. A Randall County grand jury also indicted the lawyer for converting common stock to his own benefit. The property had been sold to a management company created and owned by Horton. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. 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. 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. In 2001, the AMBER Alert itself an acronym tied the abduction of a young girl in Texas, was renamed in Arkansas to the Morgan Nick AMBER Alert. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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. 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. As of June, a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever killed Mathis. Driftwood? Fannin has been looking for him, unsuccessfully, for almost twenty years. That autopsy found Hercutt suffered headinjuries she couldn't possibly have sustained in the crash. 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. [], JONESBORO, Ark. Other than Horton himself, no one except Ardis ODell Reed may know for certain where Tex Roberts is, but after he was released on $15,000 bond, Ardis ODell Reed vanished for over two years. Looking at this year to date, the answer to how many murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, 2021 or how many homicides in Little Rock, Arkansas, 2021 can be found on the citys government website. Ive got some expert analysis in that chapter of the new evidence that has come out. Willow trees are another deliberate choice Jared made to include in the book. 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. Sheriff's Deputy Courtney Kizer, the public information officer, said Wednesday the case is still active and they "are still investigating all possible leads." McCarter, the chief detective, would not releasethe initial report a decade after the crash. Murder Mystery: Most Likely To Be Murdered Part 2. 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. 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. "And everybody who worked for her obviously she was pretty strong-willedbut she had very loyal people whoworked for her. Next Horton tried to cash Roberts ample holdings of stocks and bonds. But subtle clues soon tipped off her loved ones that there was more to the story. Despite Rector's mental state, then Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton made a point of returning to Arkansas to oversee Rector's January 24, 1992 execution during the 1992 U.S. Presidential campaign. His large, 300-pound frame had been set on fire and burned beyond recognition. The Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought a death sentence for the pair. It's unknown whether or not they were Kevin and Don. They were seen dancing with an unknown American in a Mexican cabaret. 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. 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. 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. 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. $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. There are rumors of an unidentified figure in military fatigues loitering in the area before the train ran over Kevin and Don. Family members said he was all but cut out of her will. Blood samples taken from the bathroom were later lost by WMPD investigators before the WM3 went to trial. At around 10:30 p.m., Morgan asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. The 2019 homicide rate in Arkansas, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Report, was an 8.0, meaning that Arkansas murders rate showed that roughly 8 individuals per 100,000 residents of the state were murdered in 2019. Vance was reportedly a fan of Pressly, and was a frequent viewer of her morning news show. At around 10:30 p.m., Morgan asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. Rector survived the surgery and was put on trial, his defense arguing that Rector was intellectually impaired and not competent to stand trial. On June 6, 1972, it was neither. Love Arkansas? You'll receive your first newsletter soon! He chronicles those experiences and cases, too. These gruesome acts took place in the Natural State, and for the most part justice was served. After waiting several hours for Roberts to return, Bergeron called the police. On May 24, shortly before 12:30 p.m., a shooting was reported at 234 Adcock Road. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were around 9,951 murders in Arkansas alone. 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. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Since her disappearance, Colleen Nick has founded the Morgan Nick Foundation, which helps parents cope with the disappearances of children. 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. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime communitytogether we can do better. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. Since the case against the men depended on his testimony, charges had to be dismissed after his death. Despite being terribly beaten, the two survived. Her husband and her family are basically from Pocahontas, Jared said. 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 that involve Arkansas have yet to be solved and victims have yet to see justice. So what's all this got to do with Arkansas? On June 4, 1968, while the museum was open to the public, a thief smashed the display case and snatched the jewel. He was convicted of theft by false pretext and sentenced to a ten-year prison term, and was later convicted on four counts of forgery in Dallas. Lavinia and her husband were sentenced to death in October 1845. Tusing vanished on June 14, 2000. Police believe she was abducted before she was tossed in the ditch. 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. It worked. Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of. The victim was a young blonde, and she had been savagely beaten before being shot in the head by her boyfriend. Ford shot at the creature and it briefly fell to the ground before disappearing into the night. During his original stories with those subjects, Jared won Feature Writer of the Year from the AP and Arkansas Press Association. "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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Travis Dorman covers crime, breaking news and law enforcement. "You may remain anonymous. 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. And a decade later, the case remains unsolved. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. They were partially undressed but had not been raped. He claimed to have sauntered into the Witte carrying a lawn chair and a concealed hammer. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. 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, The Democrat-Gazette ran a follow-up story, The story did little to dispel the rumors, though, famous philosophers and complex mathematical theorems, investigating reports of "cattle rustling", swept the country in the late 19th century, a handful of restaurants in Virginia Beach, Her case received assistance from the FBI, Arkansas' ugliest years of racial bloodshe, a formal investigation was never performed, the latest mention of this story dates back to late 2011, Parks' security firm was later contracted, Clinton's far-right critics pounced on the murder, also tried to link Clinton to the murders, dismissed such claims as "unsubstantiated", unnamed suspect might also have ties to Jerry's murder, were released per the controversial Alford Plea in 2011, physical evidence linking the WM3 to the crime scene, witnesses who originally testified against the trio, DNA from one of the shoelaces used to subdue, On the evening of the murders a "disoriented", was discovered in one of the sheets used to wrap the victims. 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. as well as Little Rock. 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 couple's son's are now in the custody of relatives. He went on to criticizethe state highway patrol, whichworked the crash, and the sheriff's office, whichreceived the case after the autopsyon Aug. 6, 2009. 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. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. 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. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Sheriff Stringfellow adds, "Oh yes, we've had several restraining orders, but the couple would somehow makeup.". The two youths were among the youngest people ever charged with murder in American history. And yet another account says drivers pick up a young girl asking for a ride home. 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. On November 11, 2009, Vance was convicted of capital murder, residential burglary, rape, and theft of property. We've always constantlytried to do things to try to solve it. 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. He would not elaborate onShannon Hercutt's cause of death, nor would he say what deputiesfound when they went to her home. On June 25, 1990, Simmons died by the method he had chosen, lethal injection. Some of the cases only hope of being solved lie in the hands and on the conscious of potential witnesses. More specifically, in Little Rock, Arkansas most populated city, in 2018 the homicide rate was 20.07 per 100,000 residents. The Hercutt family said a $45,000. The Packard was found abandoned 56 miles east of the spot where the bodies were discovered. Bring on the Shiplap? Despite the heinous crime, a formal investigation was never performed. Giles says they're still working to pinpoint a motive in the case. They may have information. But he had a good reputation for paying his gambling debts. Jesse Millinger disappeared early in the year of 1903 and had not been heard of since. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. In one of Echols' many interviews while in prison, he issued a sobering notion to filmmakers of the West of Memphis documentary: "The person who killed those three kids is still out there walking on the street.". The fence supposedly got it out of the country through Chicago. None of his relatives would claim the body, and he was buried in a pauper's grave. Anyone with information regarding Frazier's death is asked to email sheriff's Investigator J.D. At the time of her death, Ted Hercutt told the News Sentinel in 2009, father anddaughter were embroiled in litigation over a piece of property. Jared was present for three of the four executions including the first double execution in 20 years in the United States. 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. (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.) Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. The 40-year-old was a hardworking business owner, a loving sister and an incredible aunt to Penny's daughter. 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.