Maybe somebody knows something who just can't talk about it right now, but down the road they may. 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. Chitwood decided a court of inquiry was necessary, and Judge Dee Brown Walker agreed. All rights reserved. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Authorities also discovered that the names in the Bible belonged to a family the victim stayed with while living in Dallas. 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. 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. And we still have some of those here today.". The McFarlin family gave the 49.2 carat stone to the Witte two years later, where it was prominently displayed as the McFarlin diamond. 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. Her friends said that there was a "creepy" man talking to Morgan around the last time she was seen. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. 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. Rumors swirled. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. Isadore Banks grew up in that era of oppression. Sheriff's deputies responded and located a deceased male, Jacob Stone, 22, at the scene. "We've always kept this case open. 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. This case, I had to use more anonymous sources because people didnt want to talk about it, Jared said. In early January 2014, Cicada 3301 released another message in its three year journey. The real Wick claimed she didn't know the victim. 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. The case was solved in 2019, however the prime suspect, Rory Allen Gregory, died in prison before the case could go to trial. The Little Rock Police Department dismissed such claims as "unsubstantiated". Her body was found in a nearby ditch. Boredom is the eternal curse of the fisherman. "It's sad," John Madewell said. No conclusive proof of their cause of death has ever been established. 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. Blood samples taken from the bathroom were later lost by WMPD investigators before the WM3 went to trial. At first, her mother was uncertain, but eventually let her go. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. On Aug. 31, 1997, Garland County deputies found the bodies of 17-year-old Teela Hudson . 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. "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. Crime Tips HOTline (870) 642-2125 or Submit Via Email. John Burnett was apprehended and hanged a month later in Fayeteville as well. Another case, which Jared has been following for many years, is the murder of Amanda Tusing. Authorities say the couple's 13 and 15 year old sons witnessed the shooting of their mother. That may have been why somein the community grew to suspect the father had a hand in his daughter's killing. Hercuttwouldn't have been out driving that late. Your email address will not be published. It is literally the most comprehensive review of everything which has happened in that case that has been done.. 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. 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. Packard stopped making automobiles in 1958, and garages willing to repair cars overnight vanished long ago. Riggs requested the death penalty and her wish was fulfilled on April 30, 2000. However, this neat package overlooks one minor. Tusing vanished on June 14, 2000. Until then, natives of the Natural State will remain haunted by these unsolved mysteries. 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 . Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. Thank you! Adding another twist in the case, Gary was recently charged with the murder of his mother's new husband, David Millstein. 48-year-old Timothy Sharp is in the Sevier County Jail charged in the shooting death of his wife Crystal Sharp. If you have any information that could help crack it, please call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. Nevertheless, the handwriting expert (using copies) testified that Roberts signatures were, in his opinion, not genuine. Sadly, after more than 20 years, it appears that the deaths of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers will forever remain unsolved. 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. As of this writing, however, the latest mention of this story dates back to late 2011. 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. In his newest book, Whispers in the Willows, Jared explores three unsolved murder cases hes covered throughout the years, and more. 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. No evidence exists of sexual assault in any of the cases, an unusual factor, Jared said. 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 fence supposedly got it out of the country through Chicago. "I know you have paid someone to kill Shannon," Penny Stephens told Ted Hercutt, his mouth agape. In Japan, the willow represents ghosts. In Chinese culture, a willow branch can ward off evil spirits. These gruesome acts took place in the Natural State, and for the most part justice was served. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. 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. In a joint statement on April 13, investigators noted it is believed White's death, which was determined to be a homicide, was "an isolated incident" in response to unconfirmed reports circulating in the community that multiple victims were involved. Other friends had also received similar cards, Bergeron learnedall with the addresses typed. 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. 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 lawmen at the scene, he said,did not go down the embankment to view his daughter's body. (The independent Roberts kept no servants.) He finally sat down with the lead investigator on the case over a year ago and Jared said they hashed it out. The sheriff's office launched a homicide investigation. Parks' security firm was later contracted to guard Clinton's presidential campaign headquarters in 1992. She vanished in Halloween 2011 and then her body was found in a cemetery not far from her house underneath some bushes. Leave them blank to get signed up. 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. 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. 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 . "And I think that sometimes it takes years and years to solve a case. When Harding College Associate Professor Ruby Stapleton was kidnapped from a Searcy laundromat in October 1963, her anxious students, colleagues and family had to wait an excruciating 11 days to learn her fate. None of his relatives would claim the body, and he was buried in a pauper's grave. A brutal lynching leaves unanswered questions. A local black coalition offered a $1,000 reward to anyone with information, but no one came forward. Crystal Sharp's body has been sent to Little Rock, Arkansas for an autopsy. The property had been sold to a management company created and owned by Horton. 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. Love Arkansas? 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. There was, in short, no apparent motive. So what's all this got to do with Arkansas? These Uniform Crime Reports show not only the information for the state as a whole, but also include data for many cities and counties as well, organized by the law enforcement agency. Damien Echols was the lead suspect in the murders of three West Memphis boys in 1993. Family members said he was all but cut out of her will. 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. He made impossible, Topkapi-like entrances through seemingly inaccessible windows and slipped away unobserved on all but one occasion. 2009 KSLA-TV & Raycom Media. - A poem titled "New Lite" sparks memories of an old, dark secret. The Sharp's neighbor, Lisa Arbor can see their home from her front yard, but says although she's shocked, she's not surprised. Get more stories delivered right to your email. "Boys, I'm not afraid," he was reported as saying when guards strapped him in and fastened the electrodes. 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. In the months that followed, the Phantom Killer embarked on a murder spree, which the media coined the Texarkana Moonlight Murders. We've always constantlytried to do things to try to solve it. Simmons was charged with 16 counts of murder, found guilty, and sentenced to death. Since her disappearance, Colleen Nick has founded the Morgan Nick Foundation, which helps parents cope with the disappearances of children. Willow trees are another deliberate choice Jared made to include in the book. 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. Billie Jean Phillips She was murdered in her Madison County home on September 2, 1994. "And don't sit there and act like you're so innocent.". HOT SPRINGS -- The new year began with some homicides still unsolved. They were partially undressed but had not been raped. 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. Even the desert itself is different, a victim of the encroaching city and land developers. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. Jared takes a deep personal interest in these cases and others he covers, often becoming close with the family of the victims. Frazier had been reported missing out on Feb. 8. Days later, his truck was found in the woods just outside Marion. Police interrogated more than 3000 persons, from highway travelers to narcotics addicts, all to no avail. 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 They were seen dancing with an unknown American in a Mexican cabaret. "We've heard numerous things," Giles said. Thank you to Brandon Howard with Highlands Today for the story. Most of these recent Little Rock murders have not been solved, and law enforcement continues to investigate their homicides. The report was []. 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. From the name on the ID, authorities found that the deceased had stolen the identity of a Cheryl Ann Wick in Minnesota. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. 48-year-old Timothy Sharp is in the Sevier County Jail charged in the shooting death of his wife Crystal Sharp. The primary focus is on victims Rebekah Gould, Karen Johnson Swift, and Amanda Tusing. If you have any information about these cases, please contact our office at (870) 642-2125. The FBI maintains that Banks' case is one of many unsolved civil rights-era cases that it is still investigating. Email Map. "We don't know if it's drug related or some sort of payback or what. .In his confession, the thief said he sold it whole to someone from Phoenix for $25,000, of which he received only $6000. 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 . Now, however, he is singing a different tune. Johnson was released on his 21st birthday, August 11, 2005, having spent seven years in prison. In those halcyon days the dollar seemed like a good investment, and so the diamond found its way to New York, where it was purchased by E. B. McFarlin of San Antonio in 1956. But subtle clues soon tipped off her loved ones that there was more to the story. During a previous escape, Chism shot and seriously wounded a correctional officer. Driftwood? Public Domain/Wikimedia. He owned several businesses, along with nearly 1,000 acres of land. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Authorities ask anyone with information in the case to call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office at 865-453-4668 or 865-428-1899. Detectives meet regularly with prosecutors to go over the case, McCarter said, and DNA evidence was recently resubmitted to the state crime labfor testing. Investigators say the Sevier's parents turned them in after being contacted by police. 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 paper reported that authorities hadn't yet found the precise cause of the fire, but were convinced it wasn't connected to the "meteors." Anyone with information can call the sheriff's office at (501) 622-3660 or the criminal investigation division at (501) 622-3690. Robert L. Tex Roberts wasperhaps still isan aging, eccentric, cigar-smoking millionaire. The police have the man who did it, and he is indeed behind bars. Timothy Sharp is in the Sevier County Jail on a first degree murder charge. 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. In most of the cases, authorities have made appeals to the public for help. Moreover, witnesses who originally testified against the trio later said they were pressured by law enforcement officials to do so. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation releases a Uniform Crime Report every year which shows the crimes, crime rates, and locations of crimes in every state, county, and city, including a report for crime in Arkansas. The indictment alleges that the four mentwo from Corpus Christi, two from Louisville, Kentuckyarranged, for Randy to buy Mafia skim money at a discount. 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. Investigators have exhausted nearly every lead in the case, yet Morgan's current whereabouts and condition remain unknown. She was dead before she hit the water. 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. Dr. Doug [], JONESBORO, Ark. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. By the late 1940s, he had amassed a small fortune. He had been beaten to death early on the morn- of June 4, only a few short hours after his stepmother Sissy had lost her first bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to Dolph Briscoe. His hope is that his work will lead to justice for families who have suffered without answers for too long. 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. Other advocates of the WM3's innocence point to one of the victim's stepfather, Terry Hobbs, as the real assailant. All of the links in this post refer back to the author's references. 2. "And everybody who worked for her obviously she was pretty strong-willedbut she had very loyal people whoworked for her. Police assume he cut it up into little pieces (greatly reducing its value) and kept it. 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 2013 murder of Patricia Collins, the 2009 murder of Terry Sullivan, the 2006 murder of Hosea "Junior" Prince, the 1977 murder of Stanley Smith, and the 1996 murder of Lela Mae Adcock can also be found listed under a separate category of Tennessee murders, unsolved central Tennessee murders. The question on many residents' minds: were the two incidents linked? 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. Stephens did not return requests for comment for this story. These names were given to the FBI, and authorities later discovered that the victim was also wanted for bank robbery in various states on the East Coast. 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. She and her husband were getting divorced and she vanished a few weeks after filing. Bring on the Shiplap? The search centered for a while on a young gigolo, but the police could prove nothing. 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. She was last seen chasing fireflies with her friends on the outskirts of the ball fields. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? The Sevier County medical examiner did not respond to a request that he release the autopsy report. Special Report: Plans to exhume 1977 Arkansas murder victim's body are 'underway'. Email him at travis.dorman@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @travdorman. 4. She would'veworn her seat belt. Finally, some others include east Arkansas unsolved murders, which include the 1986 murder of Sandra Alberda, the 1989 murder of Jimmie Wade Martin, the 1994 murder of Marty Bradley, the 1987 murder of Stella Patterson, and the 1970 murder of John Leonard, among many others in the remainder of the state. Over the years, 7,797 of those murders were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved murders in Arkansas today. Almost four years later, theyre still looking for the driver. 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. It was one of many reported "airship" sightings that swept the country in the late 19th century. 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. Fannin has been looking for him, unsuccessfully, for almost twenty years. Susie m. Isaac Piner. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office, he insisted, has not forgotten about the killing. Investigators said the case remains under investigation. In Buddhism, the willow branch represents compassion. woman accused of using aunts debit card for 136 DoorDash orders held on preset $18 million bond. 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. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. Some northern Arkansas unsolved murders include the 1998 murder of Valeria Christina Roberson, the 2000 murder of Amanda Renee Tusing, the 2001 murder of Tammy Jarvis, and the 2002 murder of Edward Choi, among many others. January 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? 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. Five famous cases the police may never mark closed.. Horton and Ardis ODell Reed, the notary who witnessed Roberts signatures, were subsequently indicted for their roles. Police in Baxter County think Gary had help, and they believe that the unnamed suspect might also have ties to Jerry's murder. 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. When they returned to the hotel shortly before midnight, they got the bad news about the car, and for the next four days, they shopped in the Juarez marketplace and danced away the nights. Another man at the scene was initially taken into custody on an unrelated charge and questioned about the incident, but was later released. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were 9,951 Arkansas murders. $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. Address: 137 W. Robinson Road De Queen, AR 71832. She was a beautiful lady. 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. The telling of the story varies wildly. Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors. Some say it involves a motorcycle headlight, the remnant of a rider killed by a carload of drunk drivers.