Another case, which Jared has been following for many years, is the murder of Amanda Tusing. The one overwhelming fact of life is chance. Thank you! Boredom is the eternal curse of the fisherman. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. Parks' security firm was later contracted to guard Clinton's presidential campaign headquarters in 1992. 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. Their hangings were reportedly well attended. Explore. The secret starts in the wooded terrain of Jack Mountain in Hot Spring County, where hunters found the remains of Linda Edwards back in 1977. 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. [ Feb 15, 2023 ] Two severe crashes in Greene County Crime [ Feb 15 , 2023 . Sheriff Stringfellow adds, "Oh yes, we've had several restraining orders, but the couple would somehow makeup.". The suspect's race was an important factor in the case, as the hair of black male was discovered in one of the sheets used to wrap the victims. 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. Hercutt's family fell apart as accusations flew. Fire Ants Have Unleashed Chaos in Texas for Decades. If you have any information that could help crack it, please call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. Huckabee's staff obliged, wiping the memory of more than 100 computers before smashing their hard drives beyond repair. In 1987, Don Henry and his friend Kevin Ives were found dead in Bryant, Arkansas on the railroad tracks near their homes. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. The maharajahs had little trouble acquiring or keeping precious stones, ancient law automatically imposed the death penalty on any subject who possessed a jewel weighing more than one carat. Fannin has been looking for him, unsuccessfully, for almost twenty years. Jimmy Dunn, the districtattorney general, declined to comment. They ranged from punishing Banks for an alleged affair with a white woman to sending a grim warning to the few successful black citizens of Crittenden County. 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. 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. Tusing vanished on June 14, 2000. Arrests were made, some jewels recovered, but the King himself was never caught. A crowd of several hundred in the downtown Jonesboro area was dispersed early Saturday by Jonesboro authorities but not before one man was arrested for allegedly refusing to follow the officers orders. Bergeron looked at the familiar signature again and decided it didnt look quite right. 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. Or Farenthold, who was known to gamble for high stakes, might have been killed because he failed to cover his tosses. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. 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 question on many residents' minds: were the two incidents linked? 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. A vehicle with a similar insignia had been used by narcotics smugglers, leading police to speculate that the Fromes may have been mistaken for dope runners who double-crossed their ringleaders. Unsolved Murder in Sevier County. His large, 300-pound frame had been set on fire and burned beyond recognition. The King reaped so much publicity he became an inspiration for lesser thieves, who attempted to emulate him without success. Mathis was lying next to the road in a driveway with "what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Usually, its a quiet whisper because you dont want anyone to know you committed this horrible heinous crime.. There's just something that comes together at some point, and I truly believe that it will here, too. One of the survivors, Henry Greenbaum, describes watching five of his siblings die at the hands of the Nazis. Jared said his book also has chapters that include other cases, too. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know," the release said. 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. Robert L. Tex Roberts wasperhaps still isan aging, eccentric, cigar-smoking millionaire. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were around 9,951 murders in Arkansas alone. "We don't know if it's drug related or some sort of payback or what. The book also delves into Arkansas death row, which made it back into the news in 2017. But police believe that other parties unknown could have had a motive, toosomeone who arranged the contact, perhaps, or helped finance Farentholds part of the deal and didnt want his role exposed in court. At the time it was thought he had been caught in a bear trap, frozen to death and thrown aside. When her mother, Colleen Nick, came to get Morgan to go home, she found no trace of her daughter. Now the bodyguard began to investigate in earnest. Here are 10 more mysteries to explore. She was very passionate about her company," said Madewell, who now runs Auntie Belham's alongside his wife. 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. Volume 1. . 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 Randall County grand jury also indicted the lawyer for converting common stock to his own benefit. In his newest book, Whispers in the Willows, Jared explores three unsolved murder cases hes covered throughout the years, and more. And we still are.". No evidence exists of sexual assault in any of the cases, an unusual factor, Jared said. 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. Clinton associate murdered execution style. 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. But an Amarillo bank did, and Horton converted the securities into cash, transferring the proceeds into his own commercial accounts. The man in the rain shoes is not Fannins long-lost rich uncle (though he is rich); indeed, Fannin doesnt even know his name. Sheriff's deputies responded and located a deceased male, Jacob Stone, 22, at the scene. as well as Little Rock. Packard stopped making automobiles in 1958, and garages willing to repair cars overnight vanished long ago. Patricia Sharpe writes a regular restaurant column, Pats Pick, for Texas Monthly. Thank you to Brandon Howard with Highlands Today for the story. Police interrogated more than 3000 persons, from highway travelers to narcotics addicts, all to no avail. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! (The independent Roberts kept no servants.) They were partially undressed but had not been raped. JONESBORO, Ark. Little is known about the puzzle's creator(s). But while the murder was an open and shut case, figuring out the victim's true identity has been impossible. The lawmen at the scene, he said,did not go down the embankment to view his daughter's body. From the name on the ID, authorities found that the deceased had stolen the identity of a Cheryl Ann Wick in Minnesota. 9.Arkansas' role in a global internet enigma. Ted Hercutt was never charged, and he died in 2017. Barnett may have been the same John Barnett who, at the time of the 1900 census, was living in Independence Township (Lee County). 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Fowler Center Presents Singer/Songwriter Kaia Kater in Concert, Multiple arrested in Poinsett County explosive investigation, WBUs Anderson Senior Recital Set for March 7, Bicyclists Invited to Enjoy Arkansas Roots Ride Between A-State Heritage Sites, Arkansas man wins $5.75 million lottery prize, I just have a feeling that a lot of murderers, at some pointthese [killers] told somebody, Jared said. Love Arkansas? But subtle clues soon tipped off her loved ones that there was more to the story. 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. 2. Her possessions gave investigators little to work with. Clinton's far-right critics pounced on the murder. This Cold Case remains unsolved. Texarkana Siblings Charged in Burned Bodies Case. These cases are still remembered by many Arkansanswhopray for justice. The police have the man who did it, and he is indeed behind bars. "We've heard numerous things," Giles said. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. Days later, his truck was found in the woods just outside Marion. 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. McCarter, the chief detective, would not releasethe initial report a decade after the crash. 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. All rights reserved. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office, he insisted, has not forgotten about the killing. A brutal lynching leaves unanswered questions. And You Thought Feral Hogs Were Bad. 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. The Category is reserved for cases of Unsolved Mysteries that occurred in Arkansas. The Little Rock Police Department dismissed such claims as "unsubstantiated". Still the curious account from a local TV reporter lingers more than a decade later. During his original stories with those subjects, Jared won Feature Writer of the Year from the AP and Arkansas Press Association. Madewell recalled drivingbackto Sevier County from Ohio the day after Hercutt's death on Aug. 3, 2009. Whether you agree or disagree with the amount of justice served in the courts decisions, theres no doubt that these terrible murders or even the punishments served by the perpetrators will be erased from the minds of Natural State natives anytime soon. The 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. It is literally the most comprehensive review of everything which has happened in that case that has been done.. She was a beautiful lady. Texas Lege Watch: A House Republican Fights for Chicken Freedom, Texas Monthly Recognized by ASME in the 2023 National Magazine Awards. HOT SPRINGS -- The new year began with some homicides still unsolved. All three were murdered. 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. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. 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. 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. All police have is a single description, plus the certain clue that the King must have had close contacts in Dallas society. "Boys, I'm not afraid," he was reported as saying when guards strapped him in and fastened the electrodes. 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. 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. Sheriffs deputies thought they were on the right track a month after the murder when they found a car with hair and traces of blood similar to Farentholds in the trunk. Her husband and her family are basically from Pocahontas, Jared said. 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. (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.) After trekking through the woods, they eventually found the source of the light. Her mother is a full blood Cherokee, Susie Ward. It was one of many reported "airship" sightings that swept the country in the late 19th century. Cherry was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but upon appeal of his conviction, his sentenced was reduced to 30 years. On May 24, shortly before 12:30 p.m., a shooting was reported at 234 Adcock Road. 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. 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. Penny Stephens said she went to her sister's house after the killing and sawa baseball bat, blood on the outside refrigerator and two busted bottles of alcohol onthe floor. The puzzle is still currently ongoing and its progress can be followed here. The story did little to dispel the rumors, though. On the night of the fire, local authorities were besieged by reports of the fireballs in the sky. Andy Taylor and Barney Fife meet Spock and Captain Kirk? 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. 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. According to investigators, the man killed his wife in front of his children. She noted it was a mystery what he was doing in that area of the county and she believes he was "either taken out there and murdered or dumped.". Does a killer still roam free in Arkansas? At around 10:30 p.m., Morgan asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. 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. The following day, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Morgan's friends told police that they saw her talking to a "creepy" man. The local police quickly rushed to the conclusion, claiming the boys had died from a drug overdose on the tracks. 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. Theres a possibility that a law officer may have been involved in her murder.. Hobbs had a history of child abuse and was reportedly the last person seen with three boys. These gruesome acts took place in the Natural State, and for the most part justice was served. Five famous cases the police may never mark closed.. 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. Her friends said that there was a "creepy" man talking to Morgan around the last time she was seen. 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 Aug. 31, 1997, Garland County deputies found the bodies of 17-year-old Teela Hudson . Get more stories delivered right to your email. 4. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. "I know you have paid someone to kill Shannon," Penny Stephens told Ted Hercutt, his mouth agape. 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. After waiting several hours for Roberts to return, Bergeron called the police. A lot of new witnesses and implications have come to the surface, Jared said. Until then, natives of the Natural State will remain haunted by these unsolved mysteries. 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 in 1897, two Arkansas lawmen allegedly had a face-to-face encounter with a UFO and its pilot. Few reporters have covered as many murder cases with the passion of long-time journalist and author, George Jared. January 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? According to their YTD report, which shows crimes from January to the end of May 2021, there have been roughly 27 murders in Little Rock alone. todaysthv.com. Susie m. Isaac Piner. Phone: (870) 642-2125 (24 Hours) Emergency: Dial 911. 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. 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. None of his relatives would claim the body, and he was buried in a pauper's grave. 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. In the nearly 20 years since her disappearance, Morgan's story has gained national attention. But Shannon's life was stopped short on a late summer night on August 3rd, 2009. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were 9,951 murders in Arkansas. During the final week of 2020, three homicides were reported that are still unresolved despite the respective agencies and families of the victims involved reaching out for help. Without a doubt, the most famous murders in Arkansas, as well as the most controversial and infamous Arkansas murders case, is the 1993 triple homicide of 8 year olds Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, more commonly known as the West Memphis Three case. The real Wick claimed she didn't know the victim. Unsolved Mysteries Wiki. Example video title will go here for this video. 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". Frazier had been reported missing out on Feb. 8. Sumpter and McLemore's account isn't without precedent. All of the links in this post refer back to the author's references. 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. Her body was found in a nearby ditch. "As long as they don't give up, I think there's hope.". His hope is that his work will lead to justice for families who have suffered without answers for too long. 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 . 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. There are rumors of an unidentified figure in military fatigues loitering in the area before the train ran over Kevin and Don. He would not elaborate onShannon Hercutt's cause of death, nor would he say what deputiesfound when they went to her home. 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. The victim was a young blonde, and she had been savagely beaten before being shot in the head by her boyfriend. In early January 2014, Cicada 3301 released another message in its three year journey. Farenthold had filed a complaint against four men subsequently indicted for conspiracy to defraud him of $100,000. So what's all this got to do with Arkansas? "I can take it." 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. The indictment alleges that the four mentwo from Corpus Christi, two from Louisville, Kentuckyarranged, for Randy to buy Mafia skim money at a discount. Here's what is known about them SABRINA LYNN UNDERWOOD:. Investigators said the case remains under investigation. Two months later, her skeletal remains were found in a cemetery near her home. It may be that last trait that can most be closely identified with the author. She would'veworn her seat belt. 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. The two had a tumultuous relationship characterized by bouts of estrangement and reconciliation. Garland County Prosecutor Michelle Lawrence confirmed Thursday the case was still under review by her office. A hairy creature that stood seven feet tall, was 3 feet wide at the chest, walked upright like a human and it grabbed bobby ford outside his home near Fouke. 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. Despite being terribly beaten, the two survived. Authorities also discovered that the names in the Bible belonged to a family the victim stayed with while living in Dallas. On June 9, 1995, Morgan Nick and her mother, Colleen Nick, went to a Little League baseball game in their town of Alma, Arkansas. - A poem titled "New Lite" sparks memories of an old, dark secret. On the evening of March 9, 2000, a litany of Arkansans reported seeing "balls of fire" falling from the sky. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were 9,951 Arkansas murders. There was, in short, no apparent motive. Today (Friday, August 16) is the official release date for Jareds new book. If youre interested in learning about the statistics surrounding the number of murders in Arkansas by year, multiple law enforcement agencies offer reports and statistics on their websites. Authorities found Banks' body not far from his vehicle, mutilated and tied to a tree. 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. The blaze scorched a path one mile long and 150-feet wide. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Jos R. Ralat is Texas Monthlys taco editor, writing about tacos and Mexican food. Authorities have always been tight-lipped about the details of thecase. The Democrat-Gazette ran a follow-up story about a week later. This date marked the first woman executed in Arkansas since 1845. Some examples of cases where Little Rock murders DNA was used to solve or bring new information to light include the 1990 murder of Treva Parks and the 1990 murder of Pamela Felkins, among many others. We've always constantlytried to do things to try to solve it. Jared was present for three of the four executions including the first double execution in 20 years in the United States.