– Pope County prosecutor files charges
– First-degree murder charges in 2021 killing.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
Authorities in Pope County, Arkansas, have recently filed capital murder charges against a 40-year-old inmate in the Arkansas Department of Corrections in relation to the killing of a teenager in 2021.
The capital murder warrant was filed on Tuesday in Pope County Circuit Court, linking Stephen Karl Watson to the death that occurred on October 23, 2021, in the county.
Details of the Case
According to the protection order filed alongside the warrant, the victim was identified as a 17-year-old individual. The affidavit included in the protection order highlighted Watson’s prior conduct with other victims, both minors and adults. The victim’s age was a significant factor in issuing the protection order.
Earlier investigations by the Pope County Sheriff’s Office had called for public assistance following the discovery of a body in the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge on the same day as the incident. The body was later identified as that of 17-year-old Savana Kathleen Elliot.
It took investigators a month to determine Elliot’s death as a homicide, shedding light on the severity of the case.
Legal Consequences
Records indicate that Watson had been in custody at the Arkansas Department of Corrections since July 2022 on unrelated charges. Capital murder, classified as a Class Y felony in Arkansas, carries the possibility of a life sentence or even the death penalty.
KARK 4 News has attempted to reach out to Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones and Fifth Judicial District Prosecutor Jeff Phillips for their input on the recent developments in the case. However, as of the time of reporting, there has been no response from either official or their respective offices.
For more information on this ongoing case, stay tuned to KARK 4 News for updates as they become available.
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Pope County prosecutor files first-degree murder charges
Pope County prosecutor files murder charges in 2021 killing.
