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Thread: Arkansas State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith (57) Death investigation

  1. #1
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    Arkansas State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith (57) Death investigation

    https://patch.com/arkansas/across-ar...e-case-reports

    POCAHONTAS, AR ? A former Arkansas state lawmaker was found dead in her home this week and authorities said they're investigating her death as a homicide. A body was found around 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday at the Pocahontas home of former state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell told reporters this week.

    Authorities initially couldn't tell who the person was due to the state of the body, he said, and an autopsy would determine the identification of the body as well as a cause of death. Arkansas State Police on Thursday told media outlets the remains belonged to Collins-Smith.

    A judge has ordered documents and statements obtained by police to remain sealed. Information on potential suspects wasn't immediately released.

    Ken Yang, former press secretary for Collins-Smith, told NBC News that neighbors heard gunfire before her death and that Collins-Smith hadn't posted on social media for days despite an active presence.

    The Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported, citing property records, the home she lived in is owned by her former husband, Philip Smith, who retired in December 2017 as a circuit judge. Smith received a public reprimand in February 2019 in which he agreed not to continue serving in the judiciary after admitting during divorce litigation that he improperly used computer equipment after regular work hours at the office and engaged in "extrajudicial activities."

    Collins-Smith, 57, switched from a Democrat to a Republican in 2011. She served in the state House of Representatives, representing District 80, from 2011 to 2013 and was then elected to the state senate in 2014, representing District 19. The District has a population of about 79,000 and includes Independence, Izard and Sharp, as well as sections of Fulton and Randolph counties.

    Collins-Smith was defeated in the GOP primary last year by current state Sen. James Sturch.

    While running for office, Collins-Smith expressed staunch support for repealing Obamacare, reducing government restrictions, defending the Second Amendment and opposing abortion.

    Government officials took to Twitter to express their condolences, with Gov. Asa Hutchinson writing Wednesday that he was "stunned and saddened" to learn of her death.

    "She was a good person who served in the public arena with passion and conviction," wrote Hutchinson. "The First Lady and I extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends during this difficult time."

    Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin wrote that he was shocked and heartbroken.

    "I am heartbroken for her family & friends as they grieve, & my thoughts & prayers are w/ them during this tragic time. Linda was a friend who had a deep faith in God & passion for her state & nation. She is missed," wrote Griffin.

    The Republican Party of Arkansas said Collins-Smith was a "passionate voice for her people" and a close member of the GOP family.

    "We are praying for her loved ones during this difficult time," the organization tweeted.

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    Interesting!

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    https://people.com/crime/2-senators-died-within-days/

    Two former state senators were found dead in their homes within a span of two days last week, prompting investigations in two states

    By STEVE HELLING
    June 10, 2019 03:57 PM
    Two former state senators were found in their homes within a span of two days last week, prompting investigations in two states.

    On Thursday night, former Oklahoma state senator Jonathan Nichols was discovered dead inside his Norman, OK., residence from an apparent gunshot wound, according to a press release from Norman Police Department.

    The former lawmaker’s death came two days after former Arkansas state senator Linda Collins-Smith was found dead in her home, also from an apparent gunshot wound.


    Here are four things to know about the cases.

    1. The Cases are Seemingly Unrelated

    There are several similarities to the cases: both of the victims are former Republican lawmakers. They both died of gunshot wounds, and were found dead inside their homes.

    But that’s where the similarities seem to end. The two lawmakers lived approximately 450 miles apart, and there is no indication that they knew each other.

    Collins-Smith’s death has been classified as a homicide. Her body was found wrapped in a blanket, and authorities are searching for suspects who might have been involved.

    The Randolph County Sheriff’s Department and Arkansas State Police are continuing to investigate her death as suspicious, Region 8 News reports. Sheriff Kevin Bell also told the outlet that the public does not appear to be in danger.


    Nichols’ death is currently under investigation by Norman Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office. According to a press release from the NPD, they are working to determine Nichols’ cause and manner of death.

    2. The Bodies Were Discovered In a Span of 2 Days, But The Deaths May Have Happened Further Apart

    By the time authorities found Collins-Smith, they said her body had already begun to decompose, which made the identification process more difficult, according to the Arkansas Times.


    Authorities have not released a timeframe for her death. Her former press secretary, Ken Yang, told KATV that her neighbors had reportedly heard several gunshots just a day or two before her body was discovered.

    Authorities found Nichols, 53, shortly after receiving a call that somebody had been shot inside the home. It’s unclear how long he had been dead.

    Linda Collins-Smith
    Linda Collins-SmithLinda Collins Smith/Twitter
    RELATED: Former State Senator Linda Collins-Smith Found Dead, Death Being Investigated as a Possible Murder


    3. Both Victims had Served for Several Years in Their Respective State Governments

    Nichols served as a state senator from 2000-2012. He later went on to take staff positions in the state House, Senate and the University of Oklahoma, KOCO News 5 reports.

    At the time of his death, Nichols was working as a senior policy advisor for House Speaker Charles McCall, according to NonDoc.


    In a statement to the local outlet, McCall remembered Nichols for being “proud but humble” and said he was a “valuable” staff member and friend.

    Collins-Smith served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2010 to 2012 and represented Randolph and Sharp counties (District 80), according to her website.

    She also served as a former member of the Arkansas State Senate, where she represented District 19 after being first elected in 2014. In the primary on May 22, 2018, Collins-Smith was defeated.



    4. Their Deaths Have Sent Shock Waves Through The States’ Political Communities


    Nichols leaves behind his wife Talitha and their two daughters. Collins-Smith was a divorced mom of 2 adult children. According to her website, she was also a grandmother.

    Shortly after the news of Collins-Smith’s death broke on Tuesday, several political figures and groups expressed their sadness on social media.

    The Arkansas GOP confirmed her death on Twitter and spoke to how they would remember Collins-Smith for her “passionate voice for her people.”

    In Oklahoma, House Speaker Charles McCall tweeted that Nichols “was a very proud man, but he served humbly. He was proud of his family and loved them deeply, he was proud of Norman and he was proud of Oklahoma.”

    The investigations into both deaths are ongoing.

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    https://katv.com/news/local/linda-co...d-by-her-death

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The family of a former Arkansas lawmaker whose body was found at her home last week say they're saddened and angered by her death, and are confident authorities are using all their resources to solve her killing.

    Dozens of Arkansas lawmakers and others gathered at the state Capitol on Tuesday to remember former state Sen. Linda Collins, whose death is being investigated as a homicide. The body of Collins, who went by Collins-Smith in the Legislature, was found June 4 outside her home in Pocahontas, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.

    Police have not named a suspect or announced an arrest in Collins' death.

    ADVERTISING

    The statement was released by Collins' two adult children and her father. Collins' funeral is scheduled for Saturday morning in Pocahontas.

    A statement from Collins' family was released on Tuesday:

    "We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and prayers during this very difficult time. We ask for your understanding in being unable to speak about the ongoing investigation involving Linda Collins. As much as we want to speak to you, know that we also want (and need) to protect the integrity of this investigation. We are surprised, upset, angered, and saddened by this event and are at a loss for words in describing the feelings and emotions that we are currently going through.

    We are confident that the Randolph County Sheriff's Department and the Arkansas State Police are using all resources available to find a resolution to this investigation and put our hearts and minds at ease. Linda would want all of us to be strong for her during this trying time. Let us honor her memory, of all the wonderful things she said and did for so many people, regardless of political views or otherwise. She was always there to listen and to try to help where she could. She would always go above and beyond for people in need. At this time the family is not taking questions in regard to the investigation proceedings.

    The funeral arrangements have been made readily available via the website located at https://www.fearsfamilyfuneralhome.c.../linda-collins or on their Facebook page, Fears Family Funeral Home.

    In lieu of flowers, we respectfully suggest that donations be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.

    Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting fearsfamilyfuneralhome.com If you believe that you have pertinent information please contact the Arkansas State Police or Randolph County Sheriff’s Department."

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    https://www.thv11.com/article/news/f...c-3ff2e4709f2b

    Former State Senator Linda Collins-Smiths will be laid to rest Saturday, June 15 at Sutton Free Will Baptist Church at 10 a.m.

    Collins-Smith was found at her home in Randolph County on Tuesday, June 4. Officials are still investigating her death, the cause of death still not determined.

    As questions remain about the investigation and the death of Collins-Smith, neighbors told us she was a great person, who stayed busy and always had a welcoming smile.

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    https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/li...mith-clintons/

    Conspiracy theories are now at play for Collin Smith Death.

    In June 2019, Arkansas resident Linda Collins-Smith, who served a single term in the Arkansas state House of Representatives and a single term in the Arkansas state Senate, was reportedly found dead of a gunshot wound inside her home in the city Pocahontas. Arkansas police said they are investigating her death as a homicide.

    Any death of a political figure in Arkansas, regardless of cause, is typically quickly linked by conspiracy mongers to the decades-old ?Clinton body count? rumor, which holds that Bill and Hillary Clinton have for years been involved (with impunity) in the murder of scores of people possessed of incriminating information about them.

    Typically, the deceased are claimed to have been on the verge of testifying against Bill or Hillary Clinton at the time of their demises, thus necessitating hasty bump-offs. (Why the powerful forces behind the Clintons constantly risk exposure by waiting until things reach a critical juncture before they act remains unexplained.)

    So it was with Collins-Smith, who quickly became the subject of online claims that she was ?set to testify against Hillary Clinton before a grand jury? within the upcoming week:

    In reality, Collins-Smith ? who no longer held any political or public office ? neither had any substantive connections to the Clintons nor was investigating them at the time of her death. Likewise, no grand jury activity regarding the Clintons was taking place in Arkansas in June 2019. This story had nothing whatsoever to do with the Clintons at all other than that it coincidentally took place in Bill Clinton?s home state.

    Although it may not have been the first or only expression of this particular iteration, one japing tweet perfectly encapsulated how quickly and easily such conspiracy canards originate and spread after events such as unexpected deaths:

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    https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/15/us/st...est/index.html

    State Police and Randolph County Sheriff's deputies announced Friday that they detained Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, 48, of Pocahontas, Arkansas. Criminal charges against her are pending, state police said in a statement.

    Authorities are not releasing more information on the arrest for now to maintain the integrity of the investigation. Collins-Smith's death is being investigated as a homicide, the statement said. Information on O'Donnell's attorney was not immediately available.

    Collins-Smith was found fatally shot in her Randolph County home on June 4.

    She was one of two Republican former state senators found dead in their homes within two days. The next day, Jonathan Nichols was found dead in his Oklahoma home after reports of gunfire.
    The deaths appear to be unrelated.

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    https://www.foxnews.com/us/arrest-ma...-state-senator

    A former campaign staffer has been arrested in connection with this month's shooting death of former Arkansas state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, according to reports.

    Arkansas State Police identified the suspect as Rebecca Lynn O?Donnell, 48, of Pocahontas, Ark., and said that criminal charges were pending, but did not say whether they were seeking any other suspects in Collins? death.

    FORMER ARKANSAS STATE SENATOR REPORTEDLY FOUND SHOT DEAD INSIDE HER HOME

    Collins-Smith, 57, was found dead at her home in Pocahontas. Authorities have released few details about the killing and haven?t said how or when exactly the ex-lawmaker was killed.

    A judge last week granted a request by prosecutors to seal documents and statements obtained by police during the probe.
    The Randolph County sheriff confirmed to Little Rock's FOX 16 that this photo is of Linda Collins-Smith (left) and suspect Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell. (Facebook)



    Arkansas State Police have not released the connection between O?Donnell and Collin-Smith but a former communications director for the former Republican state senator told Little Rock's KTHV-TV that O?Donnell had worked on Collins-Smith?s most recent campaign and the two were friends.

    No further details about the circumstances of the arrest, or a possible motive, were immediately available. Arkansas police said the investigation is ongoing.

    Collins served one term in the state House and was originally elected as a Democrat in 2010. She changed parties and became a Republican in 2011, the year before the GOP won control of both chambers of the Legislature.

    She was elected to the state Senate in 2014 and became known as one of the most conservative senators in the majority-GOP chamber. Last year, she lost her seat in the Republican primary.



    Collins and her husband, retired Circuit Judge Philip Smith, got divorced last year and were in the middle of a legal fight over their properties, including a motel.

    Her funeral is set for Saturday morning in Pocahontas. Collins? two adult children and father said earlier this week that they were saddened and angered by the killing.
    Quote Originally Posted by bowieluva View Post
    lol at Nestle being some vicious smiter, she's the nicest person on this site besides probably puzzld. Or at least the last person to resort to smiting.
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    Why on earth would I smite you when I can ban you?

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    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...tside-n1018606

    Friend charged with murder of ex-Arkansas state senator who was found slain outside

    A friend and onetime campaign aide for the former Arkansas state senator found dead outside her home has been charged with her murder.

    Rebecca O’Donnell, 48, was charged Monday with murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence on Monday, in the death of former state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith.

    O’Donnell and Collins-Smith, 57, were friends and worked together last year, Collins-Smith’s former press secretary Ken Yang previously told NBC News. O’Donnell, a former campaign staffer for Collins-Smith, was taken into custody on Friday, according to Arkansas State Police.

    Police discovered Collins-Smith’s body outside her home in Pocahontas, Arkansas on June 4. According to Henry H. Boyce, the prosecuting attorney in the case, it took investigators two days to identify the former senator using dental records because her body was in an “advanced state of decomposition.”

    Gregg Parrish, the executive director of the Arkansas Association of Public Defenders, said O’Donnell does not have the means to hire her own attorney.

    Collins-Smith served in both the Arkansas House and Senate. In 2017, she introduced a controversial transgender “bathroom bill” that would have required people to use the bathrooms that correspond to their assigned sex.

  10. #10
    Cousin Greg Angiebla's Avatar
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    How long was she out there that her body was so advanced in decay?

    "The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man" -Charles Darwin

    Quote Originally Posted by bowieluva View Post
    Chelsea, if you are a ghost and reading mds, I command you to walk into the light.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Angiebla View Post
    How long was she out there that her body was so advanced in decay?
    I'm not sure. They're being pretty tight lipped about everything on this case.

    https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/re...-collins-smith

    Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, 48, appeared in court Monday to face charges of capital murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in the death of Linda Collins-Smith, whose decomposing body was discovered on June 4. O'Donnell was arrested on Friday.

    O'Donnell was ordered held without bond during her appearance at the Randolph County circuit court on Monday, according to CBS affiliate KTVH-TV of Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Further details of the murder — including when and how Collins-Smith was killed — are not currently available, as judge Harold Erwin has sealed the investigative files pertaining to the case.

    Henry Boyce, the prosecuting attorney for the Third Judicial District, explained the judge's decision in a statement handed out to press.

    “The biggest threat to the successful prosecution of any criminal case is the premature release of information,” said Boyce, according to KTVH-TV. “It has the tendency, as with this case, to become distorted and ultimately has the effect of prejudicing the potential jurors who may eventually be chosen to hear the case at trial.”

    Arkansas state police have said that the investigation is at a "critical juncture" and that no further information would be released "until authorities are confident it will not compromise the integrity of the criminal case," according to CBS News.
    Ken Yang, a former communications director for Collins, said that O'Donnell and Collins had campaigned together and described the duo as "good friends."

    "They traveled together and did grassroots stuff, even after Linda lost her re-election," Yang told CBS News.

    Family members of Collins-Smith have declined comment but have released a statement that they "are sickened and upset that someone so close to Linda would be involved in such a heartless crime," according to CBS News.

    Robin Emis, an attorney for Collins during her divorce, was stunned by the accusations made against O'Donnell.

    “She treated Linda as if she was either her friend or her mother. She just watched over her and protected her to a degree that was touching,” Emis said, according to the Associated Press.

    Tim Loggains, O’Donnell’s fianc?, maintained his partner’s innocence.

    “Both [of us] loved Linda and tirelessly gave our time and energy to support her, in every way,” Loggains said in a statement. “Although Becky and I are devastated by the current accusations, we are trying to trust the judicial process and we hope that every possible suspect is being looked into. A lot of hurtful things are being printed and we ask that people please show us mercy while the police investigate every possibility.”
    I may be way off, but I am wondering if there was more to their relationship than just a friendship.

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    https://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...-murder-plots/

    The killing of a former Arkansas state senator mystified her family and colleagues from the start.

    In June, family members of Linda Collins-Smith found her decomposed body wrapped in a blanket under a tarp at the end of her driveway in Pocahontas, Ark. Collins-Smith, a 57-year-old Republican former lawmaker, had been stabbed to death.

    Ten days later, police arrested Rebecca Lynn O?Donnell, one of Collins-Smith?s closest friends, who had worked on Collins-Smith?s reelection campaign, and charged her with capital murder. Police released only a single detail tying her to the crime: O?Donnell was captured on video removing Collins-Smith?s home surveillance cameras on May 28, 2019 ? the last day Collins-Smith was seen alive, according to an affidavit.

    Now, the case has taken another strange turn.

    On Tuesday, authorities in Jackson County, Ark., charged O?Donnell, 49, with solicitation to commit murder and to tamper with evidence, accusing of her of asking several inmates to kill Collins-Smith?s ex-husband and his new wife. She allegedly promised the prisoners a stash of gold and silver for their efforts.

    The new charges rest on the testimony of jailhouse witnesses, describing O?Donnell?s alleged attempts to hire her cellmates to destroy evidence against her in the murder case and to stage a murder-suicide at the home of the lawmaker?s ex-husband, Phil Smith, a former state judge.

    According to the police affidavit, O?Donnell allegedly promised the inmates that they would find thousands of dollars? worth of gold and silver hidden in Phil Smith?s home once Smith and his wife, Mary, were killed.

    She also allegedly asked two inmates to kill a judge and prosecutor connected to her murder case.

    Lee Short, O?Donnell?s defense attorney, could not immediately be reached to comment. But in a statement to ABC News, Short cast doubt on the inmates? credibility, noting that they are sometimes offered rewards in the form of reduced punishment in exchange for cooperating in investigations. Three of four inmates who came forward as informants are awaiting trial in an alleged scheme to steal a man?s Social Security debit card information.

    ?It?s not surprising at all ? inmates do it all the time,? Short told ABC News. ?In high-profile cases, especially homicides, people tend to seek opportunities to improve their situations by giving statements against people.?

    According to the affidavit, investigators were able to corroborate some aspects of the inmates? story through video evidence. Public records of the divorce of Collins-Smith and Phil Smith reviewed by The Washington Post show that they were fighting about $28,000 in gold and silver coins stashed away in an unknown location.

    Collins-Smith, a local business owner in Pocahontas, a town of about 7,000 in northeast Arkansas, was elected to the state House as a Democrat in 2011. She switched parties about eight months later. Elected to the state Senate as a Republican in 2014, she was outspoken on issues including gun rights and transgender bathroom use. She and Smith had owned the Rock & Roll Motel together before divorcing in 2018.

    O?Donnell, in addition to working on Collins-Smith?s campaign, had served as a witness in the couple?s acrimonious divorce, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

    ?We are sickened and upset that someone so close to Linda would be involved in such a terrible, heartless crime,? Collins-Smith?s family said in a statement following O?Donnell?s arrest in June, THV 11 reported.

    According to the affidavit released Tuesday, several inmates told detectives that O?Donnell came to them for help. First, she allegedly wanted them to travel either to the Randolph County jail or the crime lab to find O?Donnell?s 2005 Honda Civic, which had been seized as evidence ? and then to ?blow it up to destroy any evidence that may be in the vehicle,? investigators wrote.

    Next, the inmates claimed that O?Donnell wanted one of them to kill Phil Smith and his new wife, Mary. Rebecca Landrum, one of the prisoners, claimed that O?Donnell tried to solicit her to kill Smith because he ?set her up.? They claimed that O?Donnell wanted Smith?s death to ?look like a suicide,? and that they were instructed to either hang or shoot him. Another prisoner, Shana Hembrey, said she was told to ?pack a bag so it looks like Mary was in the process of leaving Mr. Smith.?

    A third inmate, Cassandra Geoffrion, claimed that O?Donnell even slipped her a forged suicide note under a jail cell door purporting to be from Smith. According to the affidavit, jail surveillance video shows that O?Donnell slipped two pieces of paper to Geoffrion beneath a locked door.

    The three inmates claimed that if they followed through, O?Donnell promised them gold and silver stashed away at Smith?s home for payment for the killings. ?Ms. O?Donnell told Ms. Landrum that the last time Linda had the gold and silver appraised it was worth between $20,000 and $30,000,? investigators wrote.

    Divorce records show that Smith and Collins-Smith fought during the proceedings about the whereabouts of their gold and silver coins. Smith said that he had found $4,000 worth of the gold and silver. Yet both he and Collins-Smith told the court they had no idea where the other $24,000 worth of coins had gone. A judge ordered them to find the coins, but a September court settlement between Smith and Collins-Smith?s estate notes that they were never located. Collins-Smith?s estate was ordered to pay Smith $10,000 as ?replacement value" for the missing "gold and silver bullion.?
    If she is convicted of killing Collins-Smith, she will face the death penalty.

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    https://www.irishcentral.com/news/ir...-senator-money

    Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, 49, has been held without bail since last June on charges of capital murder, evidence tampering and abuse of a corpse after allegedly murdering former State Sen. Linda Collins.

    Until recently, prosecutors had not released a possible motive for the crime.

    However, Robert Dittrich, the special prosecutor assigned to the case, filed a notice with the Randolph County Circuit Court on April 30, revealing the suspected motive.

    Prosecutors believe that O'Donnell murdered Collins for "the purposes of avoiding or preventing arrest" and for financial gain, according to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

    Tim Loggains, O'Donnell's fiance, has publicly stated that Collins granted him power of attorney following her divorce from her ex-husband. Both Loggains and O'Donnell have repeatedly maintained that O'Donnell is innocent of all charges.

    The prosecutors did not specify why they thought O'Donnell planned to gain from the murder.

    O'Donnell was additionally charged in January for allegedly trying to hire female inmates at the Jackson County Jail in several murder-for-hire plots. The targets allegedly included the Collins' ex-husband and his wife and a judge and prosecutor formerly involved in the court case.

    Several women in the Jackson County Jail reportedly told police in January that O'Donnell tried to hire them to kill the targets and help secure her release.

    She now faces additional charges of solicitation to commit capital murder and solicitation to tamper with evidence. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges and her attorney labeled the charges "outlandish."

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    https://abcnews.go.com/US/bombshell-...ry?id=72214576

    In a surprise twist to a baffling Southern murder mystery, the main suspect in the June 2019 murder of former Arkansas state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, will spend 54 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder in court this morning.

    "I went to Linda's house, and I intentionally killed her and then hid the body," Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, 49, told the judge, according to ABC News affiliate KATV in Little Rock.

    The bombshell plea change follows one year after prosecutors in the case announced their intention to seek the death penalty against O'Donnell, who worked as both an aide to the senator, and later an employee of Collins-Smith's business. The two were considered close friends.

    Still, many questions remain -- most prominently: why? Details remain sketchy.

    After previously pleading not guilty to capital murder, O'Donnell changed her plea to guilty of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse during a hearing in Pocahontas, Arkansas.

    O'Donnell also pleaded "no contest" to two counts of solicitation to commit capital murder in another county. Those charges stem from what prosecutors have described as a murder-for-hire plot while she was in custody. Those pleas will be treated as guilty pleas.

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    https://katv.com/news/local/court-re...kansas-senator

    Newly released court records surrounding the 2019 killing of former Arkansas State Senator Linda Collins reveal new details about her death and her relationship with her killer, Rebecca O'Donnell.

    O'Donnell, a friend and employee of Collins', was arrested 10 days after Collins body was found at her Pocahontas home in June 2019. Over a year later, on August 6, 2020, O'Donnell accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.

    "I went to Linda's house and I intentionally killed her and then hid the body," O'Donnell told the judge earlier this month.

    O’Donnell had admitted to forging checks in Collins’ name multiple times, according to an affidavit in support of a search warrant. Collins' son said in a letter that O'Donnell "snapped" when the senator confronted her about it.

    Collins was reportedly concerned about her safety long before her murder. She gave an HP computer to a man named Benjamin Simmons a couple of months before she was killed and told him to give the computer to authorities if anything ever happened to her.

    The same affidavit states that security camera footage from Collins’ home showed O’Donnell with blood on her hands holding a large knife on the suspected day Collins was killed. Video of the murder itself was deleted from the security footage. O'Donnell later told police that her boyfriend removed the cameras because they 'malfunctioned.'

    While O' Donnell was being held at the Jackson County jail, she approached other inmates about killing Collins’ ex-husband Phil Smith, who she claimed had “set her up,” according to an affidavit of probable cause. She reportedly told them to make it look like a suicide and wrote a fake suicide note.

  16. #16
    Senior Member KimTisha's Avatar
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    Never saw the accusation that the ex-husband tried to set her up.
    You are talking to a woman who has laughed in the face of death, sneered at doom and chuckled at catastrophe.
    ...Collector of Chairs. Reader of Books. Hater of Nutmeg...

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