The 38-year law enforcement veteran believes investigators have nailed down the motive but said, "If I told you what it was, it'd be obvious who I was talking about.". It's been described as the world's most complex internet puzzle. During a previous escape, Chism shot and seriously wounded a correctional officer. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Each time the thief knew exactly what he was doing. When the Sevier County officers arrived, appellant admitted to being in his parents' home to get the keys to a family vehicle, a Chrysler Conquest, on the night of the murders. It is literally the most comprehensive review of everything which has happened in that case that has been done.. Leave them blank to get signed up. On August 19, 2011, they entered Alford pleas, which allow them to assert their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them. "Boys, I'm not afraid," he was reported as saying when guards strapped him in and fastened the electrodes. He chronicles those experiences and cases, too. Detectives meet regularly with prosecutors to go over the case, McCarter said, and DNA evidence was recently resubmitted to the state crime labfor testing. He made impossible, Topkapi-like entrances through seemingly inaccessible windows and slipped away unobserved on all but one occasion. Special Report: Plans to exhume 1977 Arkansas murder victim's body are 'underway'. That autopsy found Hercutt suffered headinjuries she couldn't possibly have sustained in the crash. On the evening of the murders a "disoriented" African American man, covered in blood and mud, entered a Bojangles restaurant not far from where the bodies were found. Sadly, after more than 20 years, it appears that the deaths of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers will forever remain unsolved. Here are 10 more mysteries to explore. Can College Sports Get More Absurd Than SMU Joining the Pac-12? The question on many residents' minds: were the two incidents linked? If a suspect whispered about his or her guilt during an incident, it could be the missing link to the puzzle. The Cortez Hotel, where Hazel and Nancy Frome spent their last five nights, booked its final guest in 1970; it has been converted into a Job Corps center. Moreover, witnesses who originally testified against the trio later said they were pressured by law enforcement officials to do so. Adding another twist in the case, Gary was recently charged with the murder of his mother's new husband, David Millstein. 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. Or their Packard might not have developed a noise in the motor just before they reached the Texas border citybut it did. 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. He refused to appeal his death sentence. 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. 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. 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. And yet another account says drivers pick up a young girl asking for a ride home. The property had been sold to a management company created and owned by Horton. "Detectives have been working diligently on this case, but no arrests have been able to be made because of information lacking up to this point," he said. Clinton associate murdered execution style. Once confident of solving the case, they have lost their optimism with the years. She was very passionate about her company," said Madewell, who now runs Auntie Belham's alongside his wife. Fannin has been looking for him, unsuccessfully, for almost twenty years. 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. 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. Huckabee's staff obliged, wiping the memory of more than 100 computers before smashing their hard drives beyond repair. 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 . 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 Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought a death sentence for the pair. Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of Melissa Missy Witt, the 1995 murder of Marlo Taylor, and the 1987 double murder of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, among many others. 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. More specifically, the crime rate in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2018 was 1,446.15 per 100,000 residents. Few reporters have covered as many murder cases with the passion of long-time journalist and author, George Jared. Where is the diamond? Remnants of a sunken ship? Police in Baxter County think Gary had help, and they believe that the unnamed suspect might also have ties to Jerry's murder. Name: Date: Victims: Location : B: Charles Jason BALDWIN: May 5, 1993: 3 ? 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. The FBI maintains that Banks' case is one of many unsolved civil rights-era cases that it is still investigating. He watches the waves prod it landward and his imagination plays over the shape. 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. By the time the unknown object reached shallow water, it began to assume the identity of a mana man wrapped in chains, with his hands tied behind his back and a cement block around his neck. Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. 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. Johnson has since faced run-ins with Arkansas law subsequent to his release and is currently serving a four-year federal sentence on weapon and drug charges. 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. Love Arkansas? The man in the rain shoes is not Fannins long-lost rich uncle (though he is rich); indeed, Fannin doesnt even know his name. 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. After the mysterious deaths of Kevin Ives and his friend Don Henry in Bryant, theories were rampant as to how these two young men died. "We've heard numerous things," Giles said. JONESBORO, Ark. 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. 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. For much of the 20th century, the South was an inhospitable place for African Americans. Your email address will not be published. The telling of the story varies wildly. Or Farenthold, who was known to gamble for high stakes, might have been killed because he failed to cover his tosses. 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. But he would like to. After serving in World War I, he returned home to Marion and began working at a utility plant. The Sevier County officials told appellant that they had a subpoena issued by the Sevier County Prosecuting Attorney and that they wanted to question him further in . Ted Hercutt was never charged, and he died in 2017. 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. However, this neat package overlooks one minor. In January 2007, outgoing Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee made a peculiar request of his staff: destroy the office computers. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. She was a beautiful lady. Thank you! The Packard was found abandoned 56 miles east of the spot where the bodies were discovered. However, after hearing conflicting testimony, Rector was ruled competent to stand trial. The 40-year-old was a hardworking business owner, a loving sister and an incredible aunt to Penny's daughter. Ted Hercutt, for example, said the SUV's airbags did not deploy,there were no skid marks at the scene and an electronic device in the Escalade showed it was going just 7 mph before it wrecked. Due to the size and population of Little Rock, Arkansas, murders are more common there than in most other cities in Arkansas. 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. Explore. If you have any information that could help crack it, please call the Sevier County Sheriff's Office. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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. There were, however, plenty of clues. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies continue to work on the cases, which date from the last week of 2020 through . Anyone with information regarding Frazier's death is asked to email sheriff's Investigator J.D. Some say it involves a motorcycle headlight, the remnant of a rider killed by a carload of drunk drivers. In 1987, Don Henry and his friend Kevin Ives were found dead in Bryant, Arkansas on the railroad tracks near their homes. As of June, a $50,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the conviction of whoever killed Mathis. 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. She vanished in Halloween 2011 and then her body was found in a cemetery not far from her house underneath some bushes. 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. She and her husband were getting divorced and she vanished a few weeks after filing. Nevertheless, the handwriting expert (using copies) testified that Roberts signatures were, in his opinion, not genuine. At around 10:30 p.m., Morgan asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. [], JONESBORO, Ark. Damien Echols was the lead suspect in the murders of three West Memphis boys in 1993. He claimed that his father had collected a file on Clinton's salacious activities and that he was subsequently executed because of its contents. 48-year-old Timothy Sharp is in the Sevier County Jail charged in the shooting death of his wife Crystal Sharp. When he finally surfaced, the Dallas DAs office mysteriously lost interest in the case and agreed to a probated sentence. They were seen dancing with an unknown American in a Mexican cabaret. 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. A litany of theories emerged as motives for the murder. Family members said he was all but cut out of her will. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. The Category is reserved for cases of Unsolved Mysteries that occurred in Arkansas. He owned several businesses, along with nearly 1,000 acres of land. 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. And a decade later, the case remains unsolved. But subtle clues soon tipped off her loved ones that there was more to the story. His research unearthed a memo that refers to potential backups of the destroyed drives. The two youths were among the youngest people ever charged with murder in American history. 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. 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. Other evidence revealed that the victim briefly lived in Shreveport, La. No conclusive proof of their cause of death has ever been established. 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. 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. But in 1897, two Arkansas lawmen allegedly had a face-to-face encounter with a UFO and its pilot. 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. 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. Print Headline: Work on unsolved Hot Springs killings goes on in '22. Riggs' defense said she was suffering from depression and apparently did not want to have her children split up after her envisioned suicide. Daniel Vaughn is the countrys first barbecue editor, and he has eaten more barbecue than you have. The Murder Accountability Project Cold Case Homicide Statistics Breakdown of Homicide Clearance Rates Nearly 340,000 cases of homicide and non-negligent manslaughter went unsolved from 1965 to 2021, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report data studied by The Murder Accountability Project. 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. 2. It's unknown whether or not they were Kevin and Don. A well known, quasi-political figure around Arkansas in the late 1980s and early 90s, Luther Gerald "Jerry" Parks, Jr. oversaw Bill Clinton's security detail while Clinton was governor. 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. The McFarlin family gave the 49.2 carat stone to the Witte two years later, where it was prominently displayed as the McFarlin diamond. There are rumors of an unidentified figure in military fatigues loitering in the area before the train ran over Kevin and Don. Almost four years later, theyre still looking for the driver. Morgan's friends told police that they saw her talking to a "creepy" man. The stranger then showed Sumpter and McLemore his vessel: a cigar-shaped amalgamation of blimp and balloon that was nearly 60 feet long The pilot even offered them a ride, but the officers refused. 2009 KSLA-TV & Raycom Media. A third possibility caught the attention of the FBI, which entered the case to investigate a possible obstruction of justice. "911. Willow trees are another deliberate choice Jared made to include in the book. Bergeron looked at the familiar signature again and decided it didnt look quite right. 6720, he said. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Over the years, 7,797 of those murders were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved murders in Arkansas today. 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. Judge David Laser accepted the pleas and sentenced the three to time served. While the authorities' search for the "highway apostle" yielded no tangible evidence, the story permeated Little Rock by word of mouth. The attempt effectively resulted in a lobotomy. It worked. All police have is a single description, plus the certain clue that the King must have had close contacts in Dallas society.