Garland County sheriff's investigators have a "person of interest" in the disappearance of an 80-year-old woman they believe to be the victim of foul play, Sheriff Mike McCormick said Tuesday.
The Garland County Sheriff's Department received information on Aug. 22 that Betty Slaughter, 80, was missing and found evidence at her home that made them suspect she was a victim of foul play.
The body of an unidentified person was discovered Saturday evening in Lowe Cemetery in Royal and McCormick said foul play is suspected in that case, as well. He also confirmed reports the remains found had been burned.
Asked if the body found could be that of Slaughter, McCormick said, "We're not ruling out that possibility."
Deputies responded to the cemetery around 7:30 p.m. Saturday after receiving a call about a dead person being found, Under Sheriff Jason Lawrence told The Sentinel-Record Sunday.
The body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for positive identification and McCormick said Tuesday they were still waiting on DNA results.
He said they were investigating Slaughter's disappearance as a criminal case "rather than just a missing person," and that they are hoping for the public's help in solving the case.
Anyone with any information on the disappearance of Slaughter is urged to call the sheriff's office at 501-622-3690.
A friend of Slaughter's who contacted the newspaper, but asked to remain anonymous, said, "I've always known Betty to be the most loyal friend a person could have."
She said Slaughter "through the years had a strong love for her dogs."
Another friend who contacted the newspaper and also asked to remain anonymous said, "Betty was a private lady but for those of us that knew her she had a big heart and would do anything for you. Her dog(s) were like her children and she treated them like that. So sad."
Local on 08/29/2018