State police called in to help in Marianna murder case
LEE COUNTY — A man is charged with murder after police say he shot and killed a man in Marianna over the weekend.
It happened Friday afternoon around 3:30 on Jordan Street in the Lee County community.
The victim, identified as Derek Granville, was found on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
The Arkansas State Police were called to assist in the investigation.
Investigators developed Jeff Allen Tucker, Jr. as a suspect, and a warrant was issued for his arrest Friday night.
Early Saturday morning, state police located Tucker.
According to police, after about a six-hour standoff, Tucker surrendered without incident.
He is charged with capital murder and no bond was set. ***
LITTLE ROCK — The family of Linda Collins has released a statement concerning the status of the former Arkansas senator’s murder case after recent changes.
The family said, “We continue to feel very confident in the work the Arkansas State Police and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department have done in the investigation of this case.
We want to stress that the case brought by the State against the woman accused is strong, regardless of those who have recused from this
case..”
They go on to say they want the case to focus on bringing justice to Collins and they hope, “Judge (John) Fogleman will take the actions necessary to set this case back on track, and make it an urgent priority to provide transparency to the public in this case” Last Friday, the attorney prosecuting the death-penalty case dropped out of the proceedings without explanation.
“Henry Boyce has moved to be relieved as Prosecuting Attorney,” according to a three-sentence order signed Wednesday by Judge Fogleman.
Boyce’s assistant said the prosecutor had no comment. Court officials said Boyce’s request to the judge was verbal, so no written record is available.
Lee Short, an attorney for O’Donnell, said, “The rules of professional conduct dictate when he must recuse. I trust that Mr. Boyce was following those guidelines when he made his decision.
The change in prosecuting attorney is not going to alter the defense.”
Collins-Smith, 57, a wellto- do businesswoman, was found dead at her Pocahontas, Arkansas, home on June 4. O’Donnell, 49, was her friend and employee and is now charged with capital murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.
With all of the personnel changes, it is unclear how O’Donnell’s case will proceed. Prior to the moves of the last two weeks, O’Donnell’s next court appearance had been scheduled for Feb. 28, 2020, and the trial was tentatively set for next October.
***
Escaped inmate back in custody, say police
TEXARKANA — An Arkansas prison inmate who fled from a work assignment Monday in Texarkana has been captured, authorities reported Tuesday.
Miller County deputies captured Charles Hausner, 37, shortly before 8:41 a.m.
about four miles from the work site at Hobo Park, state Department of Correction spokesman Dina Tyler said.
He was found walking along railroad tracks.
Hausner was on the run for about 24 hours.
Hausner was serving three years at the Southwest Arkansas Community Correction Center for drug-related convictions.
Tyler said that he will be sent to a more secure lockup, most likely the maximum security unit in Tucker, although there were a pair of inmates who escaped from that facility back in July.
