the Murderpedia project stay alive. Home; . The injured officer was rushed to the hospital with a serious laceration to his throat and neck, the chief said. Any ties went to the larger city. Officers believe each of the suspects were already under investigation for criminal gang activity in Blytheville, noting Skycop cameras played a huge role in the investigation. As of Friday afternoon, Benca said Echols' legal team had not received a response from the West Memphis Police Department to their FOIA request. 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. Evidence requested by attorneys for new DNA testing in one of the most high-profile, savage murder cases in Arkansas history has been lost or destroyed by fire, dashing hopes that the men convicted of the killings of three children in West Memphis in 1993 will be exonerated. 4. Those suspects are Willvontae Westmorland,, 26, Joel Williams, 25, and Tyree Johnson, 22, all of Blytheville, police said. Jason Baldwin had no idea what was happening when a fellow inmate at the supermax prison in Varner, Arkansas, woke him up early one morning in . September 7, 2021 at 5:00 a.m. A Camden man has been charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the August 31 shooting of Greg Askew. Jacoby . 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of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Unfortunately, it seems there may never be an end to the growing number of Arkansas homicide and true crime stories in Arkansas, although advancements in forensic technology gives us hope that we can finally see justice for many cold cases which have remained unsolved for decades. Although many of Arkansas cold cases will or have remained cold for decades, and often times run completely out of leads as tips run out, there have been countless Arkansas cold cases solved and Arkansas murders solved in the past few years thanks to technological advancements as well as advancements in DNA technology. It would be quite aggressive. When the officer arrived, the shirtless man was beating his 15-year-old son with a rock in the head and face and, and the officer ordered him to stop, Baker said. The department is investigating the deaths as a murder/suicide, Counts . Charles Dugan, 26, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge last . The COVID-19 pandemic led to school closures and left millions of Americans out of work. 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. Convicted of murder after a two-day trial in May 1945, Hall was sentenced to death. 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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. All four victims were transported to various medical facilities across Arkansas. 2021 Homicides in Little Rock and . According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were 9,951 Arkansas murders. Marijuana . "What we are asking for, we don't know," Benca said. ", "I don't know what was destroyed or what was not destroyed," McClendon said. The body was removed and sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death. 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. ", Part of the Alford Plea agreement was that defense attorneys "wouldn't sue the state civilly for wrongful conviction," Benca said. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. He initially told cops he put the baby down in her crib and propped her bottle in her mouth while he went to use the bathroom, authorities said. We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine the dirt on places across the country. Alaska has the highest violent crime rate of any state of 829 incidents per 100,000 residents. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. My heart goes out to all those who have been impacted by this terrible event. Murdaugh is accused of killing his wife Margaret and youngest son Paul at their family property in June of 2021. 21, 2021 at 9:18 AM PDT. Other officers found a woman dead from apparent stab wounds and evidence of an extremely violent attack inside the home. A vehicle pursuit by Stuttgart police officers that began about 11 PM Wednesday ended south of the city near Rieger Road when the suspect, Read More How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks. "That is what I am being told, that there was a fire many, many years ago.". From left, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin sit at a table during a news conference at the Craighead County Courthouse in Jonesboro after their release from prison in this Aug. 19, 2011, file photo. We believe the more resources we can provide to digital volunteers and citizen solvers mean more citizen detective communities. These are the places in Arkansas where people were killed most often, according to the latest FBI numbers. While homicide offenses in Little Rock are up 38% over the last five years, it is important to note violent crime has trended upward across the nation. An Arkansas woman allegedly told police her husband may have beaten their newborn to death while his was sleepwalking. April 30, 2021, 4:42 PM ET Little Rock Police Scramble To Identify Suspected Serial Killer After Multiple Stabbings Arkansas authorities are asking the public for assistance in identifying a possible serial killer who they say is behind multiple stabbings that have occurred in Little Rock since August. A new lawsuit says he was innocent . We are also looking into the possibility that a T-shirt may have prompted these 20-plus-year-olds to engage in this shooting that resulted in the loss of life.. 9:08 PM EDT, Sun October 17, 2021. The West Memphis Police Department did not return calls made over two days by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette seeking comment. RoadSnacks is reader-supported. Best Places To Raise A Family In Arkansas, Download The Entire Arkansas Ranking Data. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. There were a total of 672 violent crimes reported for every 100,000 people in the state in 2020, compared to 399 per 100,000 nationwide. He claimed the infant may have fallen and struck her head while he was sleeping, authorities said. WATCH: ALEX MURDAUGH MURDER TRIAL: DAY 26 RECAP Get caught up on the Alex . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. A construction worker was arrested on a felony warrant Thursday night stemming from allegations he . 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. The number of deaths per 100,000 total population. There were 21,570 murders. Updated Jan 27, 2023; . Little Rock with 38. Context: Arkansas' numbers are probably more accurate overall than much of the country's because of the way the state reports them, Drawve says. Here is a look at the states where gun sales are surging. The Most Dangerous Cities In Arkansas For 2022 Helena-West Helena Pine Bluff Little Rock Newport West Memphis Osceola El Dorado Forrest City Paragould Fort Smith The top ten most dangerous places in Arkansas should come as no surprise to the good people of Arkansas. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We've received your submission. "In capital murder cases, evidence is kept and securely stored, but in cases like this the evidence is often destroyed or lost.". 3 wanted in connection to murder turn themselves in, Police: T-shirt led to murder; 7 arrested, ((Source: Mississippi Co. Sheriff's Office)), Trip to Mr. Ts pays off for lucky lottery winner, 2 arrested following multiple shootings in Jonesboro, NEA fares well at 5A State Swimming Championships, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: Marmaduke girls beat Rison in 1st Round, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: Bay boys beat Dierks in 1st Round, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: Rector boys beat Acorn in 1st Round, 2023 2A State Basketball Tournament: Earle boys beat Junction City in 1st Round. Three people died and an officer was stabbed in the neck in an incident in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Sunday. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Crime In Arkansas 2003 322 S. Main Street, Ste. The first homicide happened Tuesday afternoon when a still-unidentified woman was shot and killed. Abdulhakim Mujahid Classmates at Weaver Elementary School, the three were active in their Cub Scout troop and responsible enough to be trusted to roam their neighborhood without supervision. Dig deeper In late March 2021, the FBI and the National Park Service (NPS) opened an investigation at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas after a body was found in the woods. Crime stories; Little Rock crime map; Opinion . Construction worker arrested for alleged theft of $15,000 watch from client's house. The reality star was arrested Thursday by federal agents in Washington County, and he's . David, Paiden and Grayson's bodies have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for autopsies. Committee, Families file 100+ complaints against cemetery in, Farmers share their voices at the AR State Capitol, House Education Committee advances Arkansas LEARNS, Embattled UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns, Zelensky: There will be two Victory Days in Ukraine. Violent Crime . Updated: May. As for a motive, police believe the four suspects had gotten into a shoot-out with three additional suspects, who were on foot, near Myrtle and Walls. According to this same report, in 2019, 242 people were murdered in Arkansas. The 4 different instances happened between Aug 2020 & Apr 2021. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. Social media rumors that there is a suspected serial killer at large in Hot Springs, Arkansas, are false, according to the local police department. . 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. It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. Her body was discovered in a car at the scene of a crash in the area of Geyer Springs Road and Nova Lane. To keep creating According to an online inmate listing from the Mississippi County Sheriffs Office, Carter, Nance and Deontay Penny were also arrested on suspicion of hindering apprehension, terroristic act, and engaging in a continuing crime gang or enterprise. Updated: Apr. Just as Arkansas has a higher than average murder rate, its overall violent crime rate is also higher than average. All three men are being held on first-degree murder charges with $225,000 bonds set on Wednesday, Blytheville police said. Updated: Sep 21, 2021 / 10:33 AM CDT OUACHITA COUNTY, Ark. If you have an interest in learning more about the statistics and data surrounding crimes in Arkansas, you can easily find multiple law enforcement agencies which release annual reports on their websites that show, in detail, the crimes in that area. The rates of violent crime in Arkansas are largely due to violence in a few cities. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's last year of reporting. As authorities. Posted on April 22, 2021 by konniemoments in Crime, Gun Violence, Homicide, . Both bodies are being sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The two deadly shootings, which happened less than 12 hours apart, brought Little Rocks homicide total for 2021 to 57, marking the deadliest year in the city since 1993. Ledell Lee was executed in Arkansas in 2017. Finally, some unsolved central Arkansas murders include the 2011 murder of Kimberly Steele, the 2002 murder of Jane Murdaugh, the 1987 murder of Sandra Lynn Williams, and the 1995 murder of Robin Lynn Farnsworth, among others. "In my experience, it is always difficult when you go back and look at a case that is 25 or 30 years old.". The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. There were 'only' 26 cities in Arkansas where a city reported a murder to the FBI, meaning 36 places had no murder. As of April 8, Shyheim Carter, 26, Laquincy Nance Jr., 25, Deontay Penny, 24, and Derrick Penny, 25, all of Blytheville were in custody on suspicion of murder-1st degree in the shooting. Most of these recent Little Rock murders have not been solved, and law enforcement continues to investigate their homicides. Arkansas, USA : C : Hoyt Franklin CLINES March 25, 1981: 1: Arkansas, USA : Johnie Michael . Though no DNA evidence ever tied the West Memphis Three to the crime scene, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were convicted, spending nearly 20 years in prison until a twist of events in August 2011 when prosecutors allowed the men to immediately walk free. The overall violent crime rate in Arkansas as of 2019 was 867.1 per 100,000 residents, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Support local journalism by becoming a member. As part of the Alford Plea agreement, prosecutors agreed that "the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory would help seek other suspects on any DNA evidence produced in private laboratory tests during the defense team's investigation," the FOIA request to the West Memphis Police Department said. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Benca said he learned of the missing evidence from Keith Chrestman, prosecuting attorney for the 2nd Judicial District, which includes Crittenden County where West Memphis is located. By Justin Sayles Jun 9, 2021, 6:30am EDT. A bargain, known as an Alford Plea, permitted the men to maintain their innocence yet plead guilty in exchange for an 18-year sentence and credit for time served. Charles Dugan, 26, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge last Thursday after an autopsy revealed his 4-week-old daughter died of blunt force trauma to the head, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. White was a 32-year-old with a missing right eye and an anchor tattoo on her right foot. KHBS CNN Three people are dead and a police officer is recovering from being stabbed. The Missing Person Active/Expired Analysis and the Unidentified Person Active/Expired Analysis reports are available upon request. On Saturday, March 27, 2021, Paige Autumn White's body was found in the Hot Springs National Park near Whittington/Blacksnake Road. We have many . More specifically, the crime rate in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2018 was 1,446.15 per 100,000 residents. Chrestman did not return requests for comment from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Little Rock Source: Wikipedia User Gayle Nicholson from Litt | CC BY-SA 2.0 Overall SnackAbility 6 federal law enforcement sources tell TMZ. Crime Stats. All 2020 data are final. Updated Jan 8, 2021; 3:58. Musa James, Arrington's cousin, stated that her cousin was mourning in the abandoned home where her mother and brother died. That's because the FBI relies on information reported by 18,000 law enforcement agencies to compile its Uniform Crime Report. Note: Because the rates of crime are so low in America, we use "per . The rate of violent crime offenses which include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault rose by 15.6%. "The state of Arkansas continues to attempt to prevent this testing from happening. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is the largest source for award winning news and opinion that matters to you. So we wanted to get the facts straight and dug into the FBI crime data in order to identify the places with the most murders and the highest murder rates per capita in Arkansas. Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks from allegations he 2020 & ;., 26, was arrested on a second-degree murder charge last amp ; Apr 2021 to FBI. Was a 32-year-old with a missing right eye and an anchor tattoo on her foot. 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