Share. The second deadly shooting was not far away when police said 18-year-old Xavier Johnson was shot Tuesday night in the 10000 block of Republic Lane. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Fort Smith is 1 in 90 and property crime is 1 in 18. 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. It belongs to that investigative agency.". ", "New technology and advances in science would now allow us to test DNA in amounts so small that it would have been previously impossible," Echols said via Twitter Wednesday. This is pretty serious. Crime In Arkansas 2003 322 S. Main Street, Ste. Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He claimed the infant may have fallen and struck her head while he was sleeping, authorities said. As authorities. If you use a windshield cover, you can at least forget about scrapping the ice off your windshield to save some time and hassle. Clarence Krusen Killed, Burned Angela Mack-Cox and Mikey Rettew Cold Case Solved: Widow Says Her Late Husband Killed and Incinerated Mother and Child in 2002 Colin Kalmbacher Apr 10th, 2021, 7:51 pm Angela Mack-Cox and her four-year-old son Thomas Michael "Mikey" Rettew were killed and disappeared in 2002. All rights reserved. White's remains were found off of Blacksnake Road in Hot Springs National Park on March 27, 2021. The rate of violent crime offenses which include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault rose by 15.6%. The monthly statistics are calculated to address the most frequently requested inquiries. Dugan allegedly returned 10 minutes later to find the baby choking on her milk. 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. During that violent time 28 years ago, the capital city faced a gang war, with records showing 76 homicides. 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. Behind the trend: Social and economic changes sparked by the pandemic likely contributed to the spike in violent crime nationwide, legal experts tell Axios' Russell Contreras. A Ouachita County woman is in custody after her husband was found dead of a gunshot wound. Yes, but: Experts warn the data are flawed. What they're saying: The change to NIBRS reporting in Arkansas over several years is likely why there's a growing gap between the state and U.S. trend lines in the chart above, Drawve says. "Whatever it takes, we will keep fighting it. Some unsolved murders in northern Arkansas 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. Updated Jan 8, 2021; 3:58. Three people died and an officer was stabbed in the neck in an incident in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Sunday. My heart goes out to all those who have been impacted by this terrible event. Im thankful for officers who are willing to put their lives on the line when evil threatens our community. It is our seventh time ranking the most places with the most murders per capita in Arkansas and is updated for 2021. 9:08 PM EDT, Sun October 17, 2021. Before submission of the FOIA request, the West Memphis Police Department had not confirmed with attorneys that the evidence they are seeking is gone, Benca said. Montana Murder Mysteries: The Murdered Priests Part II. 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. Officials with the Little Rock Police Department admit violent crime is up, attributing it to a conflict resolution problem. Little Rock Source: Wikipedia User Gayle Nicholson from Litt | CC BY-SA 2.0 Overall SnackAbility 6 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. When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. 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. He had multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma, the chief said. Specifically, we analyzed the FBI's Uniform Crime Report which summarizes the number of murders that may happen in each city per year. Authorities said Dugan has repeatedly changed his story regarding his daughters death. 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. Crime stories; Little Rock crime map; Opinion . In the wake of the medical examiners findings, Dugan allegedly told police he had fallen asleep on his bed with the baby on his chest. . We aim to deliver infotainment about where you live that your real estate agent won't tell you. Both bodies are being sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for an autopsy to determine the cause of death. ", "We intend to keep this alive," said Lonnie Soury, a New York-based spokesman who works with Arkansas Take Action, a group advocating for the exoneration of the three men. Arkansas's top news stories | February 27, 2023. by Bradly Gill | September 7, 2021 at 4:25 p.m. Elizabeth Haynie. The West Memphis Police Department did not return calls made over two days by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette seeking comment. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. Baker said he has asked the Arkansas State Police to take the lead in the investigation because the incident involved an officer firing their weapon at someone. Discovery Company. Updated 10:02 AM EDT, Sat May 22, 2021 Link Copied! to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really Three people died and an officer was stabbed in the neck in an incident in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Sunday. - The man who Camden police say killed a mother and 4-year-old before skipping town and going into hiding will spend the rest of his life in prison. 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. All rights reserved. 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. You can download the data here.We must note that this report is not an analysis of the effectiveness of local police departments. were collected on the scene during crime scene processing. Did you encounter any technical issues? Download 2021 Rankings; Healthiest Communities. Those suspects are Willvontae Westmorland,, 26, Joel Williams, 25, and Tyree Johnson, 22, all of Blytheville, police said. No, that's not true: The National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were investigating a dead body found in a national park. 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. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Over the years, roughly 7,797 of those murders in Arkansas were solved, leaving over 2,100 unsolved Arkansas murders today. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much According to the most recent data from the FBI, the total crime rate in Little Rock is 6,707.0 per 100,000 people. 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. 2. The Missing Person Active/Expired Analysis and the Unidentified Person Active/Expired Analysis reports are available upon request. Dugan and his wife, who wasnt named by authorities, were reinterviewed by investigators earlier this month after a medical examiner ruled the newborns death a homicide. These are the places in Arkansas where people were killed most often, according to the latest FBI numbers. 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. A new lawsuit says he was innocent . 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. Dugans wife told cops her husband would often sleepwalk and he could have been having an episode at the time. All 2020 data are final. All four victims were transported to various medical facilities across Arkansas. For instance, for every 100,000 people in 2019, there had been 1,609.2 violent crimes in Pine Bluff. According to a press release from the Camden Police . The two most recent killings in Little Rock now have the city in the middle of the deadliest year it has seen in nearly three decades. 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. Dugan is being held with no bond set on the second-degree murder charge. "These three men spent too many years of their lives locked up for something they didn't do," Hendrix said. Police in Little Rock, Arkansas, are looking for a serial killer who has been tied to four seemingly random knife attacks that occurred between August 2020 and April 2021, resulting in three deaths. The 15-year-old was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. 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. Each one of us are sworn to protect it at all costs. "The state should be held accountable," Benca said, adding that prosecutors and police should adhere to their side of the agreement to "make sure we could get access to it [evidence] for further testing. 10. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Officials say at on April 4th, 2021 . 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. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. An Arkansas woman allegedly told police her husband may have beaten their newborn to death while his was sleepwalking. Since their release, attorneys and supporters of the West Memphis Three -- who have been the subject of numerous articles, movies and books -- have been working to clear their names. Arkansas 72201 (501) 371-4605 asklrpd@littlerock.gov. The department is investigating the deaths as a murder/suicide, Counts . Thank you very much in advance. He alleged that he patted the baby on her back to clear her airways before going to a neighbors home so they could call 911. 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. While browsing the internet for a list of murders in Arkansas, list of Arkansas murders, or all murders in Arkansas, youll find both solved and unsolved cases, some of which have received a lot of media attention, and others that have almost no information or receive no attention from the media. Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios NW Arkansas. Court documents show Jory Worthen accepted a plea deal that includes never being eligible for parole. The claim that there is an active serial killer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is FALSE, based on our research. 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. It simply states where murders occurred most frequently on an absolute and rate basis. Other officers found a woman dead from apparent stab wounds and evidence of an extremely violent attack inside the home. "When we -- post conviction counsel -- came on board, our first effort was to gather all physical and forensic evidence, and, with the prosecution's agreement, to submit it to independent laboratories for testing," Hendrix said via email. UPDATE: Jory Worthen, an Arkansas man accused of killing Alyssa Cannon and her child Braydon Ponder in 2019 was set to appear in court in November 2021, charged with two counts of Capital. I have no doubt that our officers swift action saved this young childs life, Baker said. Any ties went to the larger city. West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon said via phone Friday that he had confirmed with the West Memphis Police Department that some of the evidence "might have been destroyed" in a fire "around 15 years ago. Next 10 CitiesHow we calculated the murder capitals of ArkansasWhile there are surveys and public polls on what cities in a state are the most dangerous, we didn't want to rely on speculation and opinion. At first the man seemed to comply, but when the officer approached the man to put him in restraints, the man produced an edged weapon slashing the officers throat and neck just under a minute after the officer arrived, Baker said. According to Project: Cold Case, from 1965 to 2019 there were 9,951 murders in Arkansas. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Updated: 11:31 PM CDT March 29, 2021 SPRINGDALE, Ark. And Im thankful for our community, that always pulls together when tragedy strikes. Murder warrants were also issued for Westmorland, Williams and Johnson. 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. April 22, 2021 8:35pm Updated David Wayne Priest reportedly killed his pregnant wife and 2-year-old son before shooting himself. Construction worker arrested for alleged theft of $15,000 watch from client's house. Since the beginning of 2021 through the end of May, there have been 27 murders in Little Rock, Arkansas, alone. We all watch the news with horror when we hear about a homicide that happens not that far away from us. Copyright 2021 KAIT. Bond for Chris Byrd, 33, has been set at $100,000. 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. Attorneys in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial are expected to deliver their closing arguments beginning Wednesday after jurors visited the scene of the killings of the disbarred Lowcountry attorney . . Johnson later died from those injuries at an area hospital. A second officer has also been placed on leave, Baker said. Musa James, Arrington's cousin, stated that her cousin was mourning in the abandoned home where her mother and brother died. The state's homicide rate was up 36% from 7.8 per 100,000 Arkansans in 2019 to 10.6 in 2020.