The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory confirmed Wednesday that a burned body found at Lowe Cemetery in Royal on Saturday was Betty Slaughter, 80, of Hot Springs, who was reported missing last week, Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick said.
A person of interest in connection with her death is in custody on unrelated charges, but McCormick declined to release the suspect's name, saying investigators are consulting with Garland County Prosecutor Michelle Lawrence "before related charges are filed."
The Garland County Sheriff's Department received information on Aug. 22 that Slaughter had been missing since Aug. 21 and found evidence at her home that made them suspect she was a victim of foul play.
"The exact cause of death has not been determined but investigators are hopeful to have that report in the very near future," the sheriff's department said Wednesday in a news release.
A burned body was found Saturday evening in Lowe Cemetery in western Garland County and later sent to the state crime lab where DNA testing was conducted to make an identification. McCormick told The Sentinel-Record on Monday investigators felt strongly the body found was that of Slaughter, but had to wait on the DNA results to make a positive identification.
"Investigators have been working this case as a homicide investigation from the beginning," the release said.
"Sheriff Mike McCormick would like the public to know that this case is still very active and ongoing so limited information will be released at this time. Anyone with any information should contact the Garland County Sheriff's Office at 501-622-3660," the release said.
Sam Anderson Jr., a friend of the victim's, told the newspaper Wednesday, "I have known Betty all of my adult life. When my father was hospitalized immediately prior to his death she didn't miss a day for several months visiting at his bedside.
"It is who she was. She was one of the kindest, sweetest women I have known. She didn't have a cruel bone in her body," he said.
Another close friend, Kathie Moss, told the newspaper, "Betty was a wonderful friend. She may not have had any children, but she protected a handful of us like we were her children. Blood relative doesn't always define family -- and she made me feel like family.
"She always had my back. Her last words to me at the end of every phone call were, 'Hang tough.' And that's how she lived," Moss said.
A posting about the crime lab's findings on the newspaper's Facebook page drew an outpouring of grief, shock and sympathy.
"Prayers for her family and friends. Ms. Betty did not deserve to have this done to her," one post said.
Local on 08/30/2018