Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. On November 11, 2009, Vance was convicted of capital murder, residential burglary, rape, and theft of property. 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. 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. And we still have some of those here today.". At first, her mother was uncertain, but eventually let her go. Unsolved Murder Files; Unsolved Mystery Files; Legend Files; Suggested Cases; The Investigators; Contributing . 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. The West Memphis Three: Arkansas's most controversial murder case involves three men who were tried and convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three eight-year old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in West Memphis, Arkansas. Cherry's estimated release date is January 9, 2020. 4. Stephens did not return requests for comment for this story. 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. Crime Tips HOTline (870) 642-2125 or Submit Via Email. According to Arkansas State Trooper Robert Roten, his office had two separate reports of drivers picking up a "clean-cut, well-dressed" man who frightened them with his claims of the Second Coming. Police said they've interviewed hundreds of people, but no useful leads have turned up. 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 paper reported that authorities hadn't yet found the precise cause of the fire, but were convinced it wasn't connected to the "meteors." 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. [], JONESBORO, Ark. A litany of theories emerged as motives for the murder. In his telling, the father quickly realized his daughter did not die by accident, recruited a retired park ranger to investigate and pushed for an autopsy to be performed. You don't have to tell us who you are, but please tell us what you know," the release said. Rumors swirled. Moreover, witnesses who originally testified against the trio later said they were pressured by law enforcement officials to do so. MCSO Most Wanted - Arkansas When her mother, Colleen Nick, came to get Morgan to go home, she found no trace of her daughter. The book also delves into Arkansas death row, which made it back into the news in 2017. 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. (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.) Anyone with information about White or her death, "no matter how insignificant it may seem," is asked to contact the National Park Service. 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. Police believe she was abducted before she was tossed in the ditch. Volume 1. . The case was solved in 2019, however the prime suspect, Rory Allen Gregory, died in prison before the case could go to trial. The reason behind the frenzied housecleaning has never been fully explained. Mike McNeill's Diary for Wednesday, July 21, 2021: Where they belong Almost four years later, theyre still looking for the driver. Fannin has been looking for him, unsuccessfully, for almost twenty years. The sheriff's office launched a homicide investigation. Arkansas has its share of unsolved mysteries for supernatural sleuths The Democrat-Gazette ran a follow-up story about a week later. They were partially undressed but had not been raped. 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. The long-time reporter told NEA Report his book title has meaning in correlation with a lot of the cases in the book, especially the three unsolved murder cases. All rights reserved. Little is known about the puzzle's creator(s). On Aug. 31, 1997, Garland County deputies found the bodies of 17-year-old Teela Hudson . Cicada 3301 appears to be interested in candidates that have in-depth knowledge of cryptography and a passion for privacy, both online and off. That autopsy found Hercutt suffered headinjuries she couldn't possibly have sustained in the crash. 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. Robert L. Tex Roberts wasperhaps still isan aging, eccentric, cigar-smoking millionaire. Police had noted in earlier posts Frazier had not been in contact with his family since Feb. 3 and had missed scheduled medical appointments and not reported to work. Born in 1895, Banks lived through Arkansas' ugliest years of racial bloodshe. If youre interested in learning about both solved and unsolved Pulaski County murders, you can find information regarding many Pulaski County murders trial with a simple search, and often times you can find all of the crime scene information if the case is solved. Tusing vanished on June 14, 2000. Thank you! Investigators say the Sevier's parents turned them in after being contacted by police. 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. Police were summoned to the scene, but officers took the report via the drive-thru window and never entered the building to interview the suspect. Unsolved murder cases involving three women are the focus of the new book which was just released Friday, Aug 16. . 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. 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. 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. John Burnett was apprehended and hanged a month later in Fayeteville as well. 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. 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 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 . 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. She was dead before she hit the water. We've shared with you 10 unexplained mysteries of Arkansas, but don't think it stops there. Here are 10 more mysteries to explore. The Sevier County Sheriff's Office, he insisted, has not forgotten about the killing. Murder of Jimmy Hendricks and Kim Mills - Wikipedia It is literally the most comprehensive review of everything which has happened in that case that has been done.. 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. Some of those chapters chronicle Holocaust survivors that Jared interviewed throughout the years. 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. He asked to be put in touch with Tex personally, but Horton insisted on protecting his clients strict request for secrecy. Once confident of solving the case, they have lost their optimism with the years. Sep 16, 2019 NEA . But subtle clues soon tipped off her loved ones that there was more to the story. There were, however, plenty of clues. He owned several businesses, along with nearly 1,000 acres of land. But an Amarillo bank did, and Horton converted the securities into cash, transferring the proceeds into his own commercial accounts. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. But he would like to. According to Arkansas investigators, she told her friends she was originally from Florida. 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. Mathis was lying next to the road in a driveway with "what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. In January 2007, outgoing Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee made a peculiar request of his staff: destroy the office computers. Five famous cases the police may never mark closed.. AR man allegedly kills wife in front of sons, La. Travis Dorman covers crime, breaking news and law enforcement.. The memo also says the backups were supposed to be delivered to a Huckabee aide. It was one of many reported "airship" sightings that swept the country in the late 19th century. .In his confession, the thief said he sold it whole to someone from Phoenix for $25,000, of which he received only $6000. Rector was convicted on both counts and sentenced to death. Or their Packard might not have developed a noise in the motor just before they reached the Texas border citybut it did. This case, I had to use more anonymous sources because people didnt want to talk about it, Jared said. The first victims, Jimmy Hollis, 25, and Mary Jeanne Larey, 19, were attacked while parked at a local lovers' lane. Today (Friday, August 16) is the official release date for Jareds new book. 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. Explore. 10 more unsolved Arkansas mysteries | thv11.com One caller even told the Jefferson County sheriff's department that he saw a mushroom cloud-like explosion in the vicinity of the fire. Investigators never found any evidence that he was involved in the killing, McCarter said. (KTHV) - We've shared with you 10 unexplained mysteries of Arkansas, but don't think it stops there. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Over the years, 7,797 of those murders were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved murders in Arkansas today. Mention "Woodson Lateral Road" to most Arkansans over 40 and you're bound to hear the Natural State's version of the vanishing hitchhiker legend. The pair were believed to have been seen together at a truck stop in Missouri, which is where the murders are presumed to have taken place.Hendricks was left at the crime scene, while Mills was found in Mississippi County, Arkansas. "We've always kept this case open. todaysthv.com. Public Domain/Wikimedia. 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. Address: 137 W. Robinson Road De Queen, AR 71832. Both women had been shotbut by different guns. Cold Case Homicide Stats - Project: Cold Case He would not elaborate onShannon Hercutt's cause of death, nor would he say what deputiesfound when they went to her home. All rights reserved. Valuable jewelry had been ignored. Her mother is a full blood Cherokee, Susie Ward. 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. 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. 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. 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. All three were murdered. (The independent Roberts kept no servants.) 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. 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. 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 for the police, they too have changed. Its available now on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. The Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought a death sentence for the pair. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. 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. Driftwood? Next Horton tried to cash Roberts ample holdings of stocks and bonds. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 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 man in the rain shoes is not Fannins long-lost rich uncle (though he is rich); indeed, Fannin doesnt even know his name. Indeed, the evidence has pointed to someone outside the family, someone who knew Shannon Hercutt, McCarter said. Authorities found Banks' body not far from his vehicle, mutilated and tied to a tree. ", 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. 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. At around 10:30 p.m., Morgan asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. The question on many residents' minds: were the two incidents linked? 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. Karen Johnson Swift, a mother of four, went missing. Shannon Hercutt's homicide still unsolved | wbir.com Convicted of murder after a two-day trial in May 1945, Hall was sentenced to death. Hercutt's family fell apart as accusations flew. She was last seen at 10:45 p.m. by her friends, emptying sand out of her shoes at her mother's car. 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. Clinton's far-right critics pounced on the murder. 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. Stephens had been outspoken about the case in years past, speaking with local media outlets, offering cash rewards for information and expressing a lack of confidence in the investigation. Others describe a girl in a white dress, draped in a motorcycle jacket, who forever wanders the highway in search of her deceased prom date. 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. The real Wick claimed she didn't know the victim. It's been described as the world's most complex internet puzzle. Technically the 1968 robbery of the Witte Museum in San Antonio is not unsolved. 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. Adding another twist in the case, Gary was recently charged with the murder of his mother's new husband, David Millstein. Further complicating the case was the mysterious "Mr. Willow trees are another deliberate choice Jared made to include in the book. "She was a well-kept lady.". The McFarlin family gave the 49.2 carat stone to the Witte two years later, where it was prominently displayed as the McFarlin diamond. More specifically, the crime rate in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2018 was 1,446.15 per 100,000 residents. 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. The gem once belonged to the Maharajah of Mahratta in the Gujarat region of India. 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. Usually, its a quiet whisper because you dont want anyone to know you committed this horrible heinous crime.. From the name on the ID, authorities found that the deceased had stolen the identity of a Cheryl Ann Wick in Minnesota. Administrative Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 4:30pm Once inside, deputies found Crystal Sharp in the house with gunshot wounds to the head and face. Most of these recent Little Rock murders have not been solved, and law enforcement continues to investigate their homicides. Forty minutes later, they returned, but found no trace of the pilot or his mysterious airship. Farenthold had filed a complaint against four men subsequently indicted for conspiracy to defraud him of $100,000. Even Rudolf Nureyev would have difficulty performing such a feat. 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. They were seen dancing with an unknown American in a Mexican cabaret. 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 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 Japan, the willow represents ghosts. In Chinese culture, a willow branch can ward off evil spirits. Cherry was initially sentenced to life imprisonment, but upon appeal of his conviction, his sentenced was reduced to 30 years. His hope is that his work will lead to justice for families who have suffered without answers for too long. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. Other evidence revealed that the victim briefly lived in Shreveport, La. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Vance was reportedly a fan of Pressly, and was a frequent viewer of her morning news show. 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. Parks' security firm was later contracted to guard Clinton's presidential campaign headquarters in 1992. 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. He found the usually locked front door ajar but no one home. 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. "Even though an arrest has not been made, it's never been put on a shelf and ignored," said Sevier County Sheriff's Office Chief Detective Jeff McCarter, who worked on the case back in 2009. He claimed that his father had collected a file on Clinton's salacious activities and that he was subsequently executed because of its contents. On April 17, 1905, an African-American levee worker named John Barnett was hanged by a black mob near Askew (Lee County) for allegedly murdering a fellow worker. Kentucky detective investigating possible connection between 2011 - MSN