Benton County Man Found Strangled in Cell

12-8-2012 Arkansas:

Matthew Scheile, 22, was found strangled in his cell at 1 a.m. Saturday morning in the Cummins Unit in Grady, Ar., the Department of Corrections said.

Scheile was serving a 48-month prison term for failure to register as a sex offender in Benton County. Corrections department spokesman Shea Wilson said Scheile, who was from West Fork and lived previously in Rogers, was originally convicted of sexual indecency with a child in 2010 in Cleburne County and sentenced to five years’ probation.

He was sentenced June 13, 2012 and was eligible for parole on March 15, 2013. Wilson said Scheile was Level 3 sex offender, which means police consider him a high risk to offend again.

Scheile’s cellmate, Robert Holland, 44, told prison officers that he strangled Scheile with a bed sheet Friday night and covered Scheile with a sheet to cover the crime, corrections spokesman Shea Wilson said. Holland is serving a life sentence for capital murder for shooting his parents in 1991 in El Dorado. ..Source.. by 5NewsOnline

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Prison inmate at Cummins reportedly strangled by cell mate

12-10-2012:

The Arkansas State Police are continuing their investigation into the death of an inmate at the Cummins Unit of the Arkansas Department of Correction who was allegedly strangled by his cell mate.

Matthew Scheile, 22, was found covered with a sheet in his bunk after his cell mate Robert Holland, 44, stopped a guard making rounds at 1 a.m. Saturday, department spokeswoman Shea Wilson said.

Holland reportedly told the guard he had strangled Scheile with the sheet at about 11 p.m. Friday, then covered up Scheile to conceal the incident.

Wilson said Holland was serving life without parole after being convicted of capital murder in Union County and came to the ADC on Nov. 12, 1991.

Scheile was serving a 48 month sentence from Benton County for failure to register as a sex offender. He was assigned to the ADC on June 22, and would have been eligible to apply for parole on March 15, 2013.

When the state police investigation is completed, it will be turned over to 11th Judicial District-West Prosecuting Attorney S. Kyle Hunter, who is prosecutor for Jefferson and Lincoln counties. ..Source.. by Ray King

Arnoult charged in Trumann deaths

Posted in Related Deaths

9-14-2012 Arkansas:

John Anthony Arnoult, 28, of 1610 Arrowhead Pond Road, Jonesboro, was arrested Sept. 9 after investigation by the Trumann Police Department and Arkansas State Police into the deaths of Constance "Connie" Cole, 56, and John Poff, 57, both of Trumann.

Cole and Poff's bodies were found on Sept. 2 in Poff's home in the trailer park on Viva Drive by a maintenance worker who performed a welfare check after neighbors reported hearing gunshots at 6:15 a.m. that morning and seeing a red truck drive away.

According to Arkansas State Police, Cole and Poff suffered from blunt force trauma wounds and gunshot wounds from a 40 caliber handgun. Police were led to Arnoult after interviewing witnesses and Arnoult's family members, who told police they owned a red Nisson pickup truck and a 40 caliber handgun that was missing.

Poff is listed in the National Sex Offender Registry as a level 2 sex offender.

The matter is still under investigation, though police are not pursuing other suspects at this time.

Arnoult is being charged with two counts of capital murder. He is being held without bond. Court date is Oct. 29. ..Source.. by Poinsett County Democrat Tribune

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Decade-Old Sex Case Possible Motive for Murders

9-11-2012:

TRUMANN, AR (abc24.com) - Could the possible motive in the deaths of a terminally ill man and his caretaker be a sex crime dating back more than a decade?

On Sunday, Arkansas State Police arrested John Arnoult, 28, of Jonesboro and charged him in the September 2nd murders of John Poff and Connie Cole.

Poff and Cole were found murdered in Poff's mobile home in Trumann.

"My sister and I both knew whoever done this couldn't have known my mother," said Laci Cole, Connie Cole's daughter. "Nobody would have ever wanted to hurt her."

According to online records, Poff was a Level 2 sex-offender, convicted of sexual abuse more than a decade ago. Prosecutor Scott Ellington says Poff's victim was one of Arnoult's relatives.

"She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," Cole says of her mom.

Cole says her mother was helping Poff.

"He had a terminal illness, 2 months to live," Cole said. "That was my mom, she didn't care what you had done in the past; if you needed help, she was going to help you."

Arnoult remains in jail. He is due back in court in late-October. ..Source.. by Eli Ross

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Formal charges filed in deaths of Constance Cole, John Poff in NE Ark

10-26-2012:

Prosecutors have filed formal murder charges against an Arkansas man accused of killing two people who were found dead in a mobile home in Trumann.

In court documents filed in Poinsett County Friday, prosecutors charged 28-year-old John Anthony Arnoult with two counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated residential burglary in the deaths of 56-year-old Constance Cole and 57-year-old John Poff.

Authorities arrested Arnoult several days after a maintenance worker found Cole and Poff dead in Poff's mobile home in September.

Prosecutor Scott Ellington says Arnoult has a court appearance scheduled for Monday in Harrisburg.

Arnoult's attorneys didn't respond to phone messages left Friday. ..Source.. by TodaysTHV.com

UPDATE Deputies: Suspect Admitted to Pope County Killing

5-22-2012 Arkansas:

A murder suspect admitted to deputies he pulled the trigger, all because he believed the murder victim had molested his five-year-old daughter.

Andrew James Cody appeared before a judge for the first time Monday, charged with first degree murder.

Deputies say he told them he waited for 65 year-old Lee Britton in Britton's home off Shadow Lane in London in Pope County and then shot him once in the head.

Cody's supporters believe his actions were justified.

"He did me a favor, my little girl could have been the next victim," said Heather Shrives-Dornan.

Before a judge, a deputy recounted his interview with Cody just hours after the murder.

"He stated he went into the residence to confront Mr. Britton about molesting his daughter," said deputy Sgt. Stephen Pack.

Pope County Sheriff Aaron Duvall confirmed to KARK, Thursday they received allegations Lee Britton sexually abused a child.

But deputies say Friday, Cody put trash bags over his shoes to conceal evidence and put one shot into Britton's head.

"There's nothing I can say," Cody said in court, regarding his bond.

He was handed a half million dollar bond.

But outside the courtroom, his supporters were very vocal, saying they don't blame Cody one bit.

"I wish more daddies would stand up for their children like this, they should," said supporter Tara Laffoon.

Supporters of Lee Britton declined an on-camera interview, but soon, began a shouting match, calling out to Cody's supporters to prove the allegations of sexual abuse.

Deputies forced the crowd to break it up.

But people say as the case proceeds in court, they'll be back.

"This is what daddies have to do," Laffoon said.

While Cody's wife was originally arrested for being an accomplice to murder, the prosecutor says he won't be pursuing charges on her for now.

As of 4:00 p.m. Monday, Cody had not yet posted bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for July. ..Source.. by Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News

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Sheriff's office received complaint on slain man

5-25-2012 Arkansas:

Pope County Sheriff Aaron DuVall confirmed Thursday the Pope County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) received a report late last week that a 65-year-old man who was killed Friday for allegedly molesting his accused murderer’s daughter had committed inappropriate acts with a child.

Fifth Judicial District Prosecutor David Gibbons said the initial complaint against Britton is being investigated further, but he and DuVall were unable to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

While Andrew James Cody, 26, has not yet been formally charged with first-degree murder, he admitted to killing Lee Britton in his home with a shotgun to police, according to testimony given by PCSO Investigator Stephen Pack at Cody’s bond hearing Monday.

Cody was arrested Friday about 30 minutes after PCSO received a report of a shotgun blast at a home on Shadow Lane, about two miles northwest of London. PCSO responded to Britton’s residence at 12:58 p.m. Friday and found Britton’s body in the kitchen. An investigation led police to believe Britton was killed by a shotgun blast to the head, according to Pack’s testimony.

Pack said Cody was arrested about two miles from the crime scene on U.S. Highway 64 approximately 30 minutes after Britton’s body was found. Pack said Cody was arrested and upon being interviewed, initially denied involvement in Britton’s death, but eventually changed his story and admitted to the charges.

Pack said Cody stated he entered Britton’s home with plastic bags wrapped around his feet and a long-sleeve shirt on “to cut down on blood splatter.” Cody waited inside the residence for Britton to return home, at which time he confronted the man.

“Once he came in, he confronted him with the shotgun and stated that he got pretty irritated and shot him in the head,” Pack said.

Pack said Cody admitted to shooting Britton in the left side of the head and then fled, dumping the plastic bags and his shirt in a nearby creek bed. Pack said Cody then hid the shotgun, and upon arrest, showed police where the gun was stored.

Pack said Cody stated he went inside the residence to confront Britton about molesting his daughter.

Britton’s body was turned over to Pope County Coroner Leonard Krout Friday to be transported to the Arkansas Medical Examiner’s office in Little Rock.

Cody was issued a $500,000 bond Monday by District Judge Don Bourne. He posted his bond and was released from police custody Tuesday evening.

Sheena Lakay Cody, 25, was arrested with Andrew Cody Friday on accomplice charges, but her charges were dropped by Monday morning

A Freedom of Information request to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for Britton’s criminal history was not immediately returned Thursday; however, Britton’s name was not featured on several online sex offender registry websites. ..Source.. by Preston Tolliver

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Trial begins for father accused of killing suspected child molester

6-17-2013:

RUSSELLVILLE (KATV) - Opening statements began Monday in the Pope County trial of a father accused of killing the man suspected of molesting his child.

Andrew Cody is accused of killing 65-year-old Lee Britton of London in May 2012. Cody told investigators he believed Britton had sexually abused his 5-year-old daughter.

A handful of people turned out to make their support for Cody clear on the first day of the trial.

Security is reportedly extremely high because of the sensitive and volatile nature of the trial. ..Source.. by KATV.com

Man Shot, Killed By State Trooper During Struggle

4-23-2012 Arkansas:

A Washington County man was shot by a state trooper near Alma Saturday night during a struggle between the trooper and the suspect, authorities said.

Christopher Wayne Snyder, 28, of Winslow was shot and killed by trooper Michael Bowman of the Arkansas State Police after Snyder attempted to overpower Bowman during a struggle, according to a news release issued by Bill Sadler, public information officer for Arkansas State Police.

Bowman, Sadler stated, was on patrol near Alma when he pulled over a speeding vehicle at around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The speeder, later identified as Snyder, stopped in a driveway along the 7500 block of U.S. 71, according to the news release.

“The violator … exited the vehicle and fled from trooper Bowman,” Sadler stated. “A foot chase covering nearly one-quarter mile ensued before ending in the backyard of an abandoned mobile home.”

Snyder refused to comply with Bowman’s orders, and as Bowman attempted to place handcuffs on Snyder, a fight began and Snyder started to choke Bowman, the news release states.

“As Snyder moved on top of trooper Bowman, the trooper was able to reach his handgun and fire the weapon, striking Snyder, who was pronounced dead at the scene,” Sadler stated.

Bowman was examined and released from a nearby hospital. He was placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of an investigation, which will be reviewed by Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Marc McCune, according to the news release.

Sadler said at this time he had no further information to release. ..Source.. by Hicham Raache

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Slain Sex Offender History Shows Failure To Register

4-23-2012 Arkansas:

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ark. -- Christopher Wayne Snyder was shot by Arkansas State Police Trooper Michael Bowman Sunday, April 22. But Snyder's history with law enforcement reaches back to 2007.

Snyder is listed as a level 3 sex offender on Arkansas's Sex Offender online registry.

According to arrest reports from Washington County Sheriff's office, Snyder was arrested in 2007 for driving on a suspended or revoked license.

In 2008, Snyder was arrested for failure to register as a sex offender. Court documents state Snyder was convicted in Oregon for sexual assault with a minor.

Then in June 2010, he was arrested for possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Snyder's family told 40/29 News he was staying with his girlfriend in Crawford County, but the Crawford County Sheriff said they had no record of Snyder registering with his department.

Trooper Michael Bowman is on administrative leave as the investigation into Snyder's death continues. ..Source.. by 4029TV.com

Police Shooting: Sexual Assault Suspect Killed

3-12-2012 Arkansas:

A Washington County detective was involved in a deadly shooting at a residence just outside Farmington Monday afternoon, according to the sheriff’s office.

The shooting happened at 12571 Leam Blvd around 1:15 p.m. Detectives were there conducting a follow-up investigation of reported sexual assault of a minor, according to Kelly Cantrell with the sheriff’s office.

Detective L. Scott McAfee told Joshua Adams Thomas, 38, to come outside, but he claimed he needed to go back inside the house to get something, according to Cantrell.

The detective told Thomas to wait, but he went back inside the house, slamming the door behind him, according to a report from the sheriff’s office.

Shortly after, Thomas swung the door open, raised a crowbar and tried to hit the detective, Cantrell says.

Det. McAfee shot the man once. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene by Central EMS responders.

Arkansas State Police will also begin investigating the incident. As part of standard procedure, Det. McAfee will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Washington County Sherriff's Office is also conducting an internal investigation.

Neighbors had mixed reactions about the man killed by police. One considered him aggressive and controlling.

"And I just know Josh from a distance you know he threatened to shoot my dog one time and to shoot me," said Sheila Carter.

Next door neighbors describe Thomas as a nice and caring person.

"He's always been kind of quiet, kept to himself and he offered us some vegetables that he grows in his garden, just a friendly man," said Lauren Shelley.

Neighbors say they believe Thomas had a criminal history.

"He had mentioned that he had been in trouble before. I don't remember if he said was on parole or probation," said James Shelley.

Det. McAfee was involved in another deadly officer-involved shooting on Feb. 19, 2004, according to Cantrell. He was exonerated by an internal investigation and by the prosecuting attorney. ..Source.. by Alicia Agent/Jocelyne Pruna/Mallory Cooke

Sebastian County Jail inmate killed by another

9-17-2010 Arkansas:

FORT SMITH — A Sebastian County sheriff’s deputy says a county jail inmate suspected of killing another inmate claims God told him to kill.

Chief Deputy Tommy Young says 25-year-old Ashley Eugene Kaufman is suspected of strangling 64-year-old Gary Wolf Thursday morning in Kaufman’s cell.

It was not known whether Kaufman had an attorney.

Young says Kaufman told deputies he called Wolf into his cell after breakfast and strangled him with his hands then dragged his body into Wolf’s cell.

A deputy delivering medications found Wolf dead in his bunk.

Wolf was being held on charges of molesting two children. Kaufman was being held for kidnapping and battery. ..Source.. by Arkansas Online

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Sebastian County Inmate Strangled In Cell

9-17-2010 Arkansas:

A Sebastian County inmate manually strangled another inmate Thursday morning after luring him into his jail cell, authorities said.

Ashley Eugene Kaufman, 25, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder for allegedly killing Gary Van Wolf, 64, of Fort Smith.

Kaufman told investigators that "God told him to do this," after admitting he killed Wolf.

During the criminal investigation, authorities learned that Kaufman called Wolf into his cell at about 9:30 a.m. and then he "strangled him with his bare hands," said Chief Deputy Tom Young of the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office.

Kaufman then dragged Wolf out of his cell and into Wolf's cell where he placed him on the bed, put a plastic bag around his head and tied a string around it, and then placed a sheet over him, Young said.

Wolf was found by a detention deputy within 20 minutes of his death, authorities said. A deputy passing out medication while making his rounds through a pod was approached by an inmate who told him to check on Wolf.

When the deputy went into Wolf's cell, he found him unresponsive and emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, Young said.

Kaufman told authorities he placed the bag around Wolf so he would suffocate in case he wasn't dead.

Wolf and Kaufman were housed in a protective custody pod away from other inmates. Inmates with sex offense-related charges are usually housed in this pod, Young said. Kaufman was transferred to this pod on Monday after he punched detention deputy Aaron Mariott in the jaw and neck, according to a jail incident report.

Kaufman has been in jail since Aug. 20 after he was arrested for severely battering another man, whom he allegedly bound with tape, kidnapped and dumped in a field, according to a police report.

Fort Smith police were notified that a man, later identified as Scott McLachlan, was found in a field in Dora on Aug. 19. Duct tape had been wrapped around McLachlan's feet and hands and placed over his mouth, according to the report. McLachlan told police that Kaufman stole his pickup and kidnapped him.

Kaufman admitted to officers he had beaten McLachlan and said he wished he had killed him, according to the report.

Other charges Kaufman faces include first-degree domestic battery, kidnapping without releasing the victim, a parole violation, petition to revoke a suspended sentence and second-degree battery for assaulting the deputy, according police and jail reports.

Wolf had been in jail since Sept. 9, charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault, Young said.

Authorities accused Wolf of putting his hand in the underwear of two minor boys and feeling their genitals, according to a police report. The boys told authorities Wolf told them he lost a tooth and was searching for it in their underwear, according to the report.

An internal investigation into whether policies and procedures were followed at the jail will begin today, Young said. ..Source.. by Amy Sherrill

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Suspected Child Molester Strangled in Jail When Guards Left Inmates Alone

FORT SMITH, Ark. (AP) - A report by the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office says jailers left inmates unguarded for an hour during the time an inmate accused of sex crimes with children was strangled.

The Times Record in Fort Smith reports 64-year-old Gary Van Wolf was likely lured from his cell, strangled, then dragged back to his cell. The inmate was found dead Sept. 16.

The sheriff's office has named 25-year-old inmate Ashley Eugene Kaufman as the suspect in the death.

Wolf was charged with two counts of sexual assault for allegedly fondling two boys, something Kaufman learned when he and Wolf made video court appearances.

Three jail employees were reprimanded, but the report also cites problems of overcrowding and too few jail staff members. ..Source.. by MyEyeWitnessNews.com

Inmate fatally stabbed at Tucker, official says

9-5-2010 Arkansas:

TUCKER — A convicted murderer and rapist serving a life sentence was stabbed to death while working in a prison laundry Thursday morning at the state’s maximum security unit, officials said.

Inmate Eddie Smith Jr., 44, was stabbed once in the neck with a blade from a small pocketknife, prison spokeswoman Dina Tyler said. Officials allege that inmate Charles V. Moorman, who is serving five life sentences, attacked Smith.

“It was a single strike and that was it,” Tyler said.

She said authorities are investigating what led to the altercation, and that the men may have had some sort of “incident” two or three weeks ago leading up to it. She had no further details on what prompted the attack.

Smith was taken to a hospital in Little Rock, where he died Thursday morning, Tyler said. Moorman was in isolation and was being questioned by authorities, she said.

The prison is also investigating how the pocketknife, which is contraband, got into the facility.

Smith was serving a life sentence without parole for the 1996 capital murder of Debbie Halford, a Stuttgart convenience store clerk. He was arrested nearly 10 years after the crime when he was already in prison for three rape convictions.

Moorman, 59, was convicted in 1981 in Pulaski County of three counts of capital murder, one first-degree murder count and an aggravated robbery charge.

“These are maximum security inmates and it shows something that can happen at any minute,” Tyler said. ..Source.. by Arkansas Online.com

AR- Action News 5 Investigates: Sex Offender Street

3-5-2009 Arkansas:

CRITTENDEN COUNTY, AR (WMC-TV) - Each afternoon the school bus drops kids off at the Lakeshore Trailer Park in Crittenden County.

"I do have six children," neighbor Elgie Sanders said. "They want to come out and play, but I don't let them come outside."

"They just want to lock their doors and forget about sex offenders," neighbor Pamela Hollingsworth said.

Sex offenders have clustered in the trailer park because of the success of law enforcement in West Memphis and Marion in making sure they don't live in areas they are not allowed in.

"There is a law that says you cannot reside within 2,000 feet of a property public or private or elementary school," said Mike Allen, assistant chief of the West Memphis Police Department.

That Arkansas law also includes day care centers, both public and licensed in-home day cares.

"It's pretty much ran anyone from being in the corporate city limits of West Memphis," Allen said.

It is much the same for the city of Marion.

"They've done a wonderful job of ridding their cities of sex offenders," said Tommy Martin of the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department. "Unfortunately, most of them have moved out in the county."

Which takes us back to Lakeshore Trailer Park, where Martin says many sex offenders have clustered. An Action News 5 investigation discovered several registered sex offenders sharing homes at several different locations - 15 in all.

Elgie Sanders and her six children moved into Lakeshore a few months ago. She says nobody told her about the sex offenders.

"They don't need to be here either, because there's a lot of kids stay up around here, and I see a bunch of them playing, but not mine," she said. "I don't let them outside."

It's the only place for sex offenders to go if they want to stay in Crittenden County, and law enforcement tells me the sex offenders are checking in like they are supposed to.

One of those sex offenders, Charles Yarbrough - a convicted rapist - was murdered in his Lakeshore trailer last month. The sheriff's department says the murder does not appear to have anything to do with the fact that Yarbrough was a sex offender. ..Source.. by Janice Broach