A Sparkman woman accused of killing her boyfriend, who was reported missing earlier this month, is in the Clark County Detention Center today.
Kayla M. Nelson, 27, of Sparkman but residing on Church Drive, was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with the first-degree murder of her 27-year-old boyfriend, Dominic Whitaker.
Whitaker’s family reported him missing on July 9 after not having heard from him since July 4.
Arkadelphia criminal investigators Cpl. Jason Watson and Sgt. Roy Bethell opened and worked the missing person case and, with the assistance of other officers, they “searched local wooded areas, rivers and lakes by way of foot, ATV, boat and airplane,” Bethell said. “Numerous people were questioned, and no leads were developed.”
A passerby who frequents Dallas County Road 311 discovered the remains of a decomposed human body on Thursday, July 15.
The body was sent to the state Crime Laboratory for DNA testing and identification. Police said they suspected foul play because of the location: on the side of a road in a rural wooded area. Numerous police agencies responded to the scene, including the Arkadelphia Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Police.
“Arkadelphia police strongly suspected that the body was that of Whitaker’s,” Bethell said, adding that the crime lab this week confirmed, through DNA testing, that the remains were Whitaker’s. The crime lab also ruled his cause of death as homicide, Bethell said. He offered no details on how the homicide was committed.
ASP Investigator Scott Clark and Watson headed the initial investigation along with other APD investigators and CCSO investigators.
The investigation led to the arrest of Nelson. Police said Friday that the investigation is “ongoing, and additional arrests are expected.”
All information will be forwarded to County Prosecutor Blake Batson, who will determine formal charges.
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A Sparkman woman accused of killing her boyfriend, who was reported missing earlier this month, is in the Clark County Detention Center today.
Kayla M. Nelson, 27, of Sparkman but residing on Church Drive, was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with the first-degree murder of her 27-year-old boyfriend, Dominic Whitaker.
Whitaker’s family reported him missing on July 9 after not having heard from him since July 4.
Arkadelphia criminal investigators Cpl. Jason Watson and Sgt. Roy Bethell opened and worked the missing person case and, with the assistance of other officers, they “searched local wooded areas, rivers and lakes by way of foot, ATV, boat and airplane,” Bethell said. “Numerous people were questioned, and no leads were developed.”
A passerby who frequents Dallas County Road 311 discovered the remains of a decomposed human body on Thursday, July 15.
The body was sent to the state Crime Laboratory for DNA testing and identification. Police said they suspected foul play because of the location: on the side of a road in a rural wooded area. Numerous police agencies responded to the scene, including the Arkadelphia Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas State Police.
“Arkadelphia police strongly suspected that the body was that of Whitaker’s,” Bethell said, adding that the crime lab this week confirmed, through DNA testing, that the remains were Whitaker’s. The crime lab also ruled his cause of death as homicide, Bethell said. He offered no details on how the homicide was committed.
ASP Investigator Scott Clark and Watson headed the initial investigation along with other APD investigators and CCSO investigators.
The investigation led to the arrest of Nelson. Police said Friday that the investigation is “ongoing, and additional arrests are expected.”
All information will be forwarded to County Prosecutor Blake Batson, who will determine formal charges.
