One of two previously convicted felons sought on first-degree murder charges for the death of a local man whose body was found dumped at Greenwood Cemetery in October was apprehended Tuesday morning in Garland County by S.W.A.T. team members, Hot Springs police said.
John Patrick Walker, 42, was also being sought on a felony charge of possession of a firearm by certain persons in connection with the death of Cory Richardson, 31, who was reportedly shot to death, beaten and stabbed before his body was found Oct. 23 next to the cemetery's main entrance at 701 Greenwood Ave.
Police received information from the U.S. Marshals Service at around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday that Walker was at a residence off Walnut Valley Road, and he was taken into custody a short time later after the S.W.A.T. team surrounded the house, police said in a release.
Walker was being held without bond and is set for an arraignment Jan. 2 in Garland County District Court, but will likely make an appearance before then.
Police initially thought Walker might have fled to Kentucky and learned he did have family there, but then determined he was still in Garland County, police Detective Scott Lampinen said Tuesday.
Police are still searching for Donald Franklin Williams, 55, on the same charges as Walker. He is described as a white male, 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 240 pounds. His whereabouts is unknown at this time, but both he and Walker reportedly had family and friends in the areas of Mountain Pine, Fountain Lake and Jessieville.
Anyone with information about Williams should contact Lampinen at 321-6789, ext. 6741.
If convicted, Walker and Williams could face up to life in prison on the murder charge.
An earlier release from police noted, "Aiding and abetting these wanted persons in their effort to avoid law enforcement is a class B felony which carries a penalty of no less than 5 years and up to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections upon conviction."
Police have arrested five other suspects on various charges in connection with the death of Richardson. An autopsy determined Richardson died as the result of a gunshot entering his upper left buttocks and exiting his abdomen. There was also evidence of post-mortem injuries, including blunt force trauma to his head and a stab wound to his left thigh.
On Nov. 15, police arrested Steven Wood, 42, of Hot Springs, on a felony charge of first-degree murder. Stephanie Shell, 21, of Malvern, was arrested at the same time and charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, punishable by up to 20 years.
Melissa J. Wineland, 37, of Hot Springs, was arrested Oct. 24, Jake L. Norwood, 28, of Hot Springs, was arrested Nov. 5 and James Dean Keyser, 27, of Hot Springs, was arrested Nov. 24 and each charged with tampering with physical evidence, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, for their alleged part in disposing of the body and covering up the crime.
According to previous affidavits, Richardson was killed or severely wounded at 106 N. Patterson St., Wineland's residence, and transported by car to the cemetery. The car was located and searched the day Richardson was found and reportedly had a large amount of blood in the back seat. Fresh blood was also found at the Patterson Street residence.
According to a witness, on the afternoon of Oct. 22, Richardson used a counterfeit $100 bill to pay Wood for meth, which Wood got from Williams. Later that same day, Williams allegedly arrived at the residence, angry at Wood for accepting the counterfeit bill, and told Wood to locate Richardson and "deal with it," and then left.
On Nov. 6, another witness came forward and alleged Williams and his son-in-law, identified as Walker, came to the Patterson Street residence around 3 a.m. armed with handguns and pistol whipped Richardson, knocking him to the floor.
Woods allegedly joined in the attack, hitting Richardson until he got back to his feet and tried to flee out the rear door in the kitchen. At that point, Williams allegedly raised his gun and shot in Richardson's direction.
Williams and Walker were reportedly the only ones in the kitchen with Richardson at the time, and continued to beat him before a second shot was fired. The witness said Richardson was face down on the floor, yelling he had been shot as Williams and Walker exited the kitchen.
Williams allegedly began cleaning blood off his hands and the gun, then told witnesses, "y'all better clean this mess up," as he and Walker left the scene.
Local on 12/20/2017