Searcy police say they are investigating the incident as a homicide. 368, 438 S.W.2d 681. "Match Any Neighborhood" calculates the Match Level of one neighborhood to another using more than 200 characteristics of each neighborhood. Nearly 50 years on, it remains one of the sexiest and most riveting trials ever, and this book takes the reader back in time. Property crimes that are tracked for this analysis are burglary, larceny over fifty dollars, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Subject was found murdered in the Romance, Arkansas area May 9th, 1987. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please take the time to watch this video and if you have any information, please contact us. : If you have any information, please contact us. Very good look at a historical crime without the dreariness of the over-explanation of the appearance of the town and its people that drag down so many of these books. To be sure, if the appellant did not know what he was doing when he waived his constitutional rights and confessed, the waiver would not be effective and the confession inadmissible. U.S. v. Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, D.C., 36 F.R.D. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. (The US average is 22.7) Searcy property crime is 72.6. .orange-text-color {color: #FE971E;} Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip. The entire interview lasted approximately one hour. STATE of Arkansas, Appellee. Violent Crime Comparison (per 1,000 residents), Property Crime Comparison (per 1,000 residents). After dropping the appellant at Noble's Motel at about 4:45 A.M., Lester had no contact with the appellant until 12:30 P.M. At that time the appellant phoned Lester and stated, apparently referring to their 12:00 noon appointment, that he had been delayed and was just leaving to meet Lester. The appellant made a tacit admission of his involvement in the murder, as well as a specific request for the assistance of an attorney. Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. While there the appellant ordered lunch from the motel room service, which he and Lester ate in the room. Please try your request again later. Full disclosure: I was born & raised in Searcy, my father was born at Porter Rodgers hospital, & I dreamed of someday living in a huge, fancy beautiful white house with a white brick fence like the one I passed practically every day of my lifethe Porter Rodgers house. See, U.S. v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683, 94 S.Ct. Lester then asked the appellant to tell him what had happened from the beginning, whereupon the appellant related the circumstances of his wife's murder. If anyone has additional information, you are asked to call Search Police. The White County Sheriffs Office said on social media that Jacob Seth Varnell, 24, of Bald Knob was arrested in the case. A hearing was held on that motion at which Dr. Taub testified. In fact, the appellant was better off than would be expected because of an above average I.Q. Upon arrival, Sheriffs Deputies found William C. Varnell, 63, inside the home with multiple stab wounds. The search engine finds the neighborhoods that are the optimum fit to the set of criteria you choose. UPDATE: Searcy Police are now investigating this as a homicide. In any event, we do not accept as valid the proposition that a jury qualified to return a death penalty is necessarily prejudiced on the question of guilt or innocence. According to NeighborhoodScout's analysis of FBI reported crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of one of these crimes in Searcy is one in 149. Police in Searcy are investigating a murder/suicide that occurred on N. Ella St. Wednesday afternoon. The appellant's organic brain syndrome was mild to moderate, and was certainly not severe. Dr. Oscar Kozberg was a staff psychiatrist at the State Hospital and was the State's primary witness on this issue. The Searcy Police Department is investigating a murder-suicide that happened Wednesday evening. In substance, there was evidence to the effect that it was intended that Kimbrell rob Mrs. Rodgers in addition to killing her. Hall was sentenced to death by electrocution in May They didnt want to speak and we ask that you keep them in your prayers. Dr. Rodgers' confession occurred during his next, or third, interview with the police. The appellant readily agreed. Lester phoned again a third time at about 11:45 A.M., and, according to the appellant, said, "We'll meet at the motel." Sorry, there was a problem loading this page. However, the appellant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to remain silent and his right to counsel prior to making his confession. The appellant contends that filing the more serious charge is reversible error unless there is evidence in the record which would have sustained a jury verdict of guilty to the charge of capital felony murder. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Arkansas MLK Commission gathers in Selma, Alabama, Two Hot Springs murder-suicide cases happen within, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at, Just proud we survived it; Storms destroy homes, Olympic ticket sales for Paris Games gets off to, Scherzer tests pitch clock limits, gets quick-pitch, 7 Cubs pitchers combine for no-hitter vs Machado,, Mikal Bridges helps Nets rally to stun Celtics, 115-105, NASCAR star Elliott has leg surgery after snowboard, Kurt Kitayama handles a windy Bay Hill as Jon Rahm, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? Where is 2022 data? Cf. According to a news release, White County deputies along with officers of the Arkansas State Police and the Higginson Police Department arrested a 17-year-old Searcy youth March 17 and intended to file formal charges of Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2022. Discuss Searcy, Arkansas (AR) on our hugely popular Arkansas forum. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. Appellant's only argument is that the conduct of the police in obtaining the confession, considered in light of all the other circumstances, was such as to compel exclusion of the confession for the stated reasons. of 105 to 110. This second interview with the appellant was also recorded. Officers were called to check on 23-year-old Madison Clevenger because she was not showing up for work and answering her phone. Police said that based on the evidence they have; it is believed that Ollis Jr. murdered his wife and then committed suicide. The appellant now brings to this Court eight points on which he relies for reversal. The transcript of the interview reveals that one of the police officers told the appellant that he had, indeed, better spend some of his money on a good lawyer. The fire was called in by a neighbor and it was determined by firefighters to have been set in multiple places. That is not an issue here because it is admitted that no one connected with the investigation or the prosecution of the appellant was ever aware of the existence of Dr. Taub or his report until after completion of the trial herein. Certainly many elements present in a custodial interrogation and confession are absent when the confession is the product of a voluntary interview with the police. Officer Lester, not the appellant, initiated the interview. : Property Mrs. Varnell was later removed from the scene by the White County Coroners Office and sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for a forensic autopsy.. This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations. When her daughter returned home around 10:00 p.m., Ruby was not there. Appellant had also been given Miranda warnings on two prior occasions. 393 U.S. 917, 89 S.Ct. Officials say after entry was made into the home, Stevens was found dead. In Perry v. State, supra, we noted that the inflammatory nature of a photograph would not alone render it inadmissible. At the Denno hearing below, both the State and the appellant introduced expert opinion evidence relative to the appellant's mental capacity at the time of the events described above. As much that is going on, Searcy is still a good town, said DeWitt. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. No question is raised in this appeal relative to the procedures followed by the trial court in determining the admissibility of the confession. However, this information was already known to appellant's counsel. Gender and Ethnic Affinity: Evaluations by a forensic anthropologist suggested the remains shared both classifications as male or female. The same thing is true of the opposing party's willingness to admit or stipulate certain facts shown by the photograph; e.g., the fact, cause, and place of death. That evening, Ruby picked up Glens dirty laundry and took it with hers to a laundromat in Searcy. Gen., by Gary Isbell, Asst. If you have any information, call the Searcy Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 501-279-1038. Anonymous tips are also accepted through White County dispatch. The trial court gave four instructions related to the jury's consideration of the appellant's confession. Instead it is alleged that the confession was not the product of a conscious mind and was, therefore, involuntary. Now its being investigated as a homicide. The appellant merely argues that the jury so qualified would be prosecution oriented to the extent that it could not fairly pass on the issue of guilt or innocence. Under these circumstances we hold that Dr. Rodgers' rights received more than adequate protection at the hands of the police. The appellant contends that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence photographs of the deceased. , File size How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? At about 4:12 pm, Marty was found dead in his home. 1289, 482 S.W.2d 810; Cooper v. State, 246 Ark. Hunter Dean Bishop, 28, of Searcy, who was charged The authors did a great deal of research and give in-depth detail about the crime and trials without oversimplifying matters. As stated, we have applied the standards set forth in Degler v. State, supra, in reviewing this confession and have held the confession to be admissible under those standards. Ark.Stat.Ann. in journalism-mass communication from Abilene Christian University and an M.A. A subpoena duces tecum for all records relevant to the appellant's examination at the State Hospital was served on the State Hospital. . Anytime especially in the town of Searcy we are not like big towns, we dont have a lot of issues with crime, but here recently its been kind of ramped up a little bit, said DeWitt. According to a release from the Searcy Police Department sent Tuesday, officers were sent to South Oak Street to check the welfare of Van Stevens, 74, of Searcy. There was a Porter Rodgers Sr. & Jr., which was confusing & I really disliked the idea of anything disturbing my childhood fantasies about the big white house so I didnt pursue much info. The record herein is clear that the appellant's counsel was already aware of the facts surrounding Policeman Lester's discipline by his employer. Importantly, we found that Searcy has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation according to our analysis of FBI crime data. I didnt necessarily connect it to the big fancy house. SEARCY, Ark. Shores v. U.S., supra; Graves v. State, 489 S.W.2d 74 (Tenn.Cr.App.1972). The appellant said he was. Police said that based on the evidence they have; it is believed that Ollis Jr. murdered his wife and then committed The appellant does not contend that the personnel file itself, or any part of it, was admissible in evidence. December 28, 1997. Finally, the appellant testified that Lester called less than ten minutes later and told the appellant to meet him at Room 124 at the Kings Inn. The appellant met Lester between 12:30 P.M. and 12:45 P.M. on November 9 in Room 124 at the Kings Inn Motel. If you know anything about this incident you are asked to give Searcy Police a call. As stated above, we believe that the preponderance of all of the evidence supports Policeman Lester's version of that third interview. (Supp. Dr. Kozberg felt that a complete battery of tests should be done. To establish the totality of the circumstances surrounding the confession, it is necessary to review that particular interview, as well as the two interviews immediately preceding it. The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. He was found murdered on April 20th, 1989 off Hwy 31 north of Beebe, Arkansas. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. Dr. Rodgers was then confronted with statements of Hale and Kimbrell, which had been recorded electronically and transcribed. The omission of that report was strictly on an internal decision of the State Hospital staff which was never revealed to the prosecution. (The US average is 35.4) NOTE: Click on the links below to see charts for each crime category. The expert psychological and psychiatric evidence is in the same category. Violent Deana lives in the Little Rock, Arkansas, area with her husband, two daughters and two cats. Appellant was given a Miranda warning and promptly signed a written waiver of those rights. The appellant entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we dont use a simple average. In the first place, a thorough review of the record convinces us that there was evidence from which the jury could have concluded that the appellant was guilty of capital felony murder. The right to discovery in such cases is generally governed by statute. 43-1301. The explanation of the missing State Hospital report was simply that Taub's report was not considered to be part of the file at the time the subpoena was served. The NeighborhoodScout search engine is covered under US Patents No. Reports indicate that he was killed by William E. Brundidge (sometimes referred to as Brundridge or Bundridge) and two other alleged members of the Ku Klux Klan. Upon arriving, the appellant was informed by Officer W. A. Tudor that he was a suspect in the capital felony murder investigation of his wife's death. We find that each of the instructions so refused was either repetitious, argumentative, or contained an incorrect statement of the law. The State's evidence was to the effect that the defendant was legally sane and that he was competent to understand and intelligently waive his rights. Example video title will go here for this video. Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. Sanders declares state of emergency after storms, National Weather Service confirms tornadoes in AR, Proposed bill would mandate teaching breastfeeding, Garland Co. sheriff releases names in shooting deaths, Garland County deputies: Man & woman dead after shooting, AST Blog: Severe Weather Awareness Week Watches, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Police are not telling us much about the investigation. Lester finally asked the appellant if he was ready to talk to him. The incident is being investigated as a homicide. The next day, Kimberly Steele was reported missing by her parents who said that the last time they spoke with her was on September 12, 2011. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Arkansas MLK Commission gathers in Selma, Alabama, Two Hot Springs murder-suicide cases happen within, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at, Just proud we survived it; Storms destroy homes, Arkansas parents, educators react to Texas elementary school massacre, Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? Both bodies have been sent to the state crime lab. There is no contention by the appellant that the death penalty jury was improperly qualified under the guidelines established in Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Searcy Police Department at (501) 279-1038. Those four people were Larry Don Madden, Antonio Taylor, Jarrod Green, and Matthew Pentagrast. SEARCY, Ark. In addition to capital murder, Jacob Seth Varnell was arrested on suspicion of criminal attempt to commit capital murder. It was noted that it was most likely a male but a female has not been ruled out. Jesus Silvia was a 39 year-old Hispanic male from Jacksonville who was reported missing on Wednesday, June 9, 2004. Use at your own risk. WebOn the morning of September 26, 1974, the body of Fern Cowen Rodgers was discovered on the floor of her home in Searcy, Arkansas. Growing up, she was religious and attended Harding University in the same city. I found it interesting to actually be familiar with so many of the places and towns referenced in the book. We will update this article with more information as it becomes available. The 68-year-old socialite was murdered, The appellant next requested that he be permitted to employ his own court reporter. Indeed, all of the other evidence is to the effect that Dr. Rodgers was coherent, appeared to be alert, and seemed well aware of all that was going on about him before, during, and after his confession. The appellant was asked by the police if he would agree to come to the prosecuting attorney's office for the purpose of discussing some new developments in the case. , 2 Hot Springs murder-suicide cases happen within, Kirby tornado nearly crushed familys home, LR Central High students protest LEARNS Act, Residents recover as storms destroy homes in Kirby, Summit Utilities CEO responds to customer concerns, Gov. However, three other policemen and a motel waitress were in and out of the room during the afternoon for periods of a few minutes each. How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? New evidence, in order to justify a new trial, must be such as to render a different result in such new trial "probable." Accordingly, the trial court refused appellant's request for discovery and also refused to seal Lester's personnel file and make it a part of the record herein. He was later arrested at a house on Highway 258, outside Bald Knob. Still, the trial court has some discretion in the matter of discovery when impeaching matter is concerned. Police arrested Christopher Coy Gamble, 32 in connection to the It is undisputed that the appellant did not consult with any attorney during the period of November 8 and 9. Atty. 425, 527 S.W.2d 580; State v. Miller, 35 Wis.2d 454, 151 N.W.2d 157 (1967). The appellant and Lester were alone in Room 124 most of the time. All the trademarks displayed on this page are the property of Location, Inc. This argument is without merit. The interview was terminated without further interrogation and without the appellant being arrested. He was born in Little Rock, Ark., on March 6, 1979, and grew up in Jacksonville. Lester expressly denies this and claims that the appellant's confession was completely voluntary. : WebTwo unsolved Ozarks murders are back in the news this week. Allen and Nall do an excellent job fleshing out the shocking and sensational details from so long ago. In summary, Dr. Rodgers testified that he was threatened, mistreated, and abused by Officer Lester and that he does not remember making the statements that went into his confession. Something went wrong. Hurd is considered armed and dangerous. SEARCY, Ark.- Searcy police say they are investigating a homicide after officers found a man dead Monday night. I almost felt like I had been transported back in time to 1974 in Searcy, Arkansas. In September 1974, Fern Rodgers, the estranged wife of a small-town, Lester summoned Officer Doug Stevens to be present during the interview. Townsend v. City of Helena, 244 Ark. Accordingly, we hold that no error was committed by the trial court in instructing the jury. ", A psychologist and a psychiatrist, Dr. John Althoff and Dr. Oscar Kozberg, also testified by stipulation for the State. On the night of September 25, 1974, Fern Rodgers was shot and killed at her home in Searcy. These promotions will be applied to this item: Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. The St. Francis County EMSA posted a photo on their Facebook page saying Madison worked as an EMT. In fact, your chance of getting your car stolen if you live in Searcy is one in 246. I wonder what Peggy and Berry are up to these days A true crime presentation of murder in a small town, Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2022. The appellant here contends that the introduction into evidence of that signed confession violated appellant's rights to counsel and to refrain from incriminating himself. After officers entered the home, Clevenger was found dead. Alarmed, Mary Claire called the police. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. APPLY Online Schedule a VISIT Make a Gift. Few other communities of this size have a crime rate as high as Searcy. 8,376,755. Book was based on true story in Searcy AR. The interview was concluded at about 4:49 P.M., whereupon Lester immediately placed the appellant under arrest for the murder of Fern Rodgers. After officers entered the home they found Stevens dead. (KAIT) - A White County man faces a capital murder charge after authorities say he stabbed his mother to death Friday evening. Compare Searcy crime data to 335 (1952). 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. All rights reserved. Bishop was already being held at the White County Law Enforcement Center on the charges of Possession of a Firearm By Certain Persons and Theft by Receiving. Does this item contain inappropriate content? People v. Coleman, 75 Misc.2d 1090, 349 N.Y.S.2d 298 (1973). We, therefore, conclude that the appellant's contention is without merit and the State Hospital report was properly admitted into evidence. 3090, 41 L.Ed.2d 1039; Commonwealth v. Dominico, supra; People v. Bottom, 76 Misc.2d 525, 351 N.Y.S.2d 328 (1974). Varnell is also accused of stabbing his father. See Turner v. State, 258 Ark. The evidence on the question of the appellant's mental capacity consisted of expert testimony from both sides, plus the written report from the State Hospital required by Ark.Stat.Anno. in professional writing from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 228, 424 S.W.2d 856, cert. Finally, all other evidence tending to support one of the above conflicting versions over the other is on the side of Officer Lester. The appellant's condition was not different than that which would be expected in a person of his age. Lester admitted on cross-examination all aspects of the occurrence, including having given deceptive responses in a polygraph examination. The substance of Dr. Taub's testimony is as follows. The photographs in question were color shots of the deceased's remains as discovered at the crime scene. Appellant was immediately informed by the police that he was a suspect in the murder of his wife. In Izard County, a billboard advertising a reward in the murder case of Rebekah Gould was installed near Melbourne. Mike S. Allen, a native of Searcy, Arkansas, is a graduate of Harding University and Troy State University with degrees in print journalism and international relations. This, the trial court may do by an in camera inspection of the material sought. We sent the body off to the crime lab, said DeWitt. 1975). This case is still an active cold case. 378, 500 S.W.2d 387 (1973). Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. A lifelong writer, Deana has been working as a freelance magazine and newspaper writer for 28 years. Stevens remained with Lester and the appellant until the statement was completed. This request was also refused by the trial court. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case. We have reviewed the record relative to the confession according to the standard established in Degler v. State, 257 Ark. Lester and the appellant stayed in Room 124 until 2:45 or 3:00 P.M. The perpetrator forcibly entered the back door of the residence and brutally beat Mrs. Murdaugh. : Each cold case represents a valuable life. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. According to Searcy Police, Robert Hurd, of Searcy, shot and killed Kalas, 38, on Randal Drive on April 29. Victim: Identified as Robert Simmons in May 2014. : The appellant had organic brain syndrome which reduced his mental capacity, particularly when he was fatigued or under stress. Lester and the appellant ate lunch in the room, at the suggestion of the appellant, and watched a football game on television. SEARCY, Ark. Mrs. Murdaugh passed away May 15, 2007. We hold that is not the rule in a non-custodial interrogation. Regardless of whether Searcy does well or poorly compared to all other cities and towns in the US of all sizes, compared to places with a similar population, it fares badly. Over time, I gathered the hazy idea that a doctors wife had been murdered during a robbery and/or maybe that the doctor had killed her. Additional gift options are available when buying one eBook at a time. WebMicah Denise Rine was born and raised in Searcy, Arkansas. Police said the check was made due to her not showing up to work as well as not answering her phone. WebAbout a month later, Rupert Barnett, son of the city marshal and reputed to have a violent temper, killed Mack Wilcox during a quarrel over a card game. 466, 330 S.W.2d 281 (1959), this court addressed the issue of the right of confrontation.