1. Pope County prosecutor files first-degree murder charges
2. 2021 killing in Pope County.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
POPE COUNTY, Ark. – Authorities in Pope County have recently filed charges against an inmate in the Arkansas Department of Corrections linked to the tragic killing of a teenager in 2021.
A capital murder warrant was filed on Tuesday in Pope County Circuit Court, charging 40-year-old Stephen Karl Watson in connection with the death that occurred on October 23, 2021, in the county.
Protection Order Details
An order of protection filed alongside the warrant has redacted significant portions of the charging and probable cause documents. The protection order reveals that the victim was a 17-year-old individual and that the affidavit contains details of Watson’s prior conduct involving other victims, both minors and adults. The victim’s age was a determining factor in issuing the protection order.
Identification of Victim
The Pope County Sheriff’s Office had previously sought the public’s assistance in their investigation after the discovery of a body in the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuges on October 23, 2021. The body was later identified as that of 17-year-old Savana Kathleen Elliot. One month after the discovery, investigators confirmed Elliot’s death as a homicide.
Legal Proceedings
Records indicate that Watson has been in custody at the Arkansas Department of Corrections since July 2022 for unrelated charges. Capital murder is classified as a Class Y felony in Arkansas, carrying a potential sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Authorities’ Response
KARK 4 News has attempted to contact Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones and Fifth Judicial District Prosecutor Jeff Phillips for their statements on the case’s latest developments. At the time of reporting, no response had been received from either official or their respective offices.
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– Pope County prosecutor files first-degree murder charges
– 2021 killing in Pope County.
