GUILTY AR - Former State Senator, Linda Collins-Smith, 57, found dead, June 2019 *ARREST*

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  • #221
  • #222
Robert Dittrich, a longtime prosecutor from Stuttgart, this week became the latest official to be assigned to the case against a woman accused of killing former state Sen. Linda Collins of Pocahontas.

Dittrich will take over as lead prosecutor of the case. He was assigned Tuesday, according to an order from Randolph County Circuit Court.

Snip

It will now be up to Dittrich to decide whether to pursue the death penalty. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Collins case has new prosecutor; change is latest of several
 
  • #223
In a statement released on Monday morning, the Collins family responded to the moves.

"We want to stress that the case brought by the State against the woman accused is strong, regardless of those who have recused from this case," read the statement from Ken Yang, a spokesman for Collins' family.

The statement continued, "Ultimately, we want the focus of this case to remain on bringing justice to Linda. Our hope is that Judge Fogleman will take the actions necessary to set this case back on track, and make it an urgent priority to provide transparency to the public in this case. Thank you all for your continued thoughts, prayers, and privacy to our family as the case moves forward.”
Family of slain former Arkansas senator responds to recusals in murder case
 
  • #224
This is insane imo. Shouldn’t this case just be handed over to the Feds and tried in Federal Court?
 
  • #225
Momof4RN said:
This is insane imo. Shouldn’t this case just be handed over to the Feds and tried in Federal Court?
Click to expand...

I’m not sure if the Feds could step in but the Arkansa Attorney Generals office certainly could.
 
  • #226
MsArk said:
I’m not sure if the Feds could step in but the Arkansa Attorney Generals office certainly could.
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Whole thing (all of the recusals, i. e.) certainly smells "fishy" to me... :eek:

ETA: Could those assigned to the case be receiving... *death threats* (were they to reveal anything), thus... their choosing to leave the case? (And... btw, if there were such a scenario, would that information [that every individual previously assigned has had their life/a family member's life threatened, i. e.] *also* be sealed? I wonder...)
 
  • #227
I’m not surprised at the recusals. I’m sure lots of people in the legal community knew Linda either in her capacity as a state senator or through her ex-husband who was a circuit court judge.
 
  • #228
ElizB said:
I’m not surprised at the recusals. I’m sure lots of people in the legal community knew Linda either in her capacity as a state senator or through her ex-husband who was a circuit court judge.
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True. Hadn't thought of that, but it makes good sense.
 
  • #229
grunching here and i haven't read much of the thread.

1) so the other politican dying unexpectedly nearby around same time was pure coincidence... don't get me wrong, there's lot of coincidence out in the world..... if memory serves, it was never established early on that the murder victim politicians would have known each other. (different states and at least one was internal state legislature)...

2) any idea on motive for the alleged murder?... doesn't seem like there was any right away... money? adultery? mental illness? probably the big 3
 
  • #230
Tobiano8th said:
grunching here and i haven't read much of the thread.

1) so the other politican dying unexpectedly nearby around same time was pure coincidence... don't get me wrong, there's lot of coincidence out in the world..... if memory serves, it was never established early on that the murder victim politicians would have known each other. (different states and at least one was internal state legislature)...

2) any idea on motive for the alleged murder?... doesn't seem like there was any right away... money? adultery? mental illness? probably the big 3
Click to expand...

One source (my apologies here, since it's been awhile since I read the information, so I don't have the information at my fingertips) suggested that the former senator had been involved in anti human trafficking legislation (but... what potential connection that legislation may have to her demise (if any connection), I myself truly do not know).

I, also, am very interested in the motive. To take another person's *life*... And... for what reason? Just can't fathom any reason sufficient to excuse such a criminal act (JMOO).
 
  • #231
Whoa. Charged with soliciting to murder Collins' ex-husband and three others as well. What the heck?!

"The charges, filed in Jackson County, allege that Rebecca O'Donnell attempted to solicit the killing of Collins' ex-husband while being held in the county jail." As if she wasn't in enough deep doo-doo.

It's behind a paywall, but if you stop the page from fully loading you can read the article. Fun trick I discovered that actually works on a lot of sites.

Affidavit is here.
 
  • #232
GrilledCheezy said:
Whoa. Charged with soliciting to murder Collins' ex-husband and three others as well. What the heck?!

"The charges, filed in Jackson County, allege that Rebecca O'Donnell attempted to solicit the killing of Collins' ex-husband while being held in the county jail." As if she wasn't in enough deep doo-doo.

It's behind a paywall, but if you stop the page from fully loading you can read the article. Fun trick I discovered that actually works on a lot of sites.

Affidavit is here.
Click to expand...
Holy smokes! No wonder why everyone is recusing themselves.
 
  • #233
  • #234
Snipped from article

According to a probable cause affidavit filed on Tuesday, O'Donnell spoke to four different inmates at the county jail about arranging to kill Phil Smith, Collins' ex-husband, and have the death look like a suicide. O'Donnell is also alleged to have solicited an attempt to blow up her car to "destroy any evidence that may be in the vehicle," according to the affidavit.

Snip

Boyce, the former prosecutor, withdrew from Collins' murder case last year along with a judge who had previously been assigned to the matter. A new prosecutor, Robert Dittrich, has been assigned to handle the case.

No initial court date has been scheduled on the new charges against O'Donnell.

Woman held in killing of former Arkansas lawmaker faces new charges
 
  • #235
Dang! Crazy
 
  • #236
GrilledCheezy said:
Whoa. Charged with soliciting to murder Collins' ex-husband and three others as well. What the heck?!

"The charges, filed in Jackson County, allege that Rebecca O'Donnell attempted to solicit the killing of Collins' ex-husband while being held in the county jail." As if she wasn't in enough deep doo-doo.

It's behind a paywall, but if you stop the page from fully loading you can read the article. Fun trick I discovered that actually works on a lot of sites.

Affidavit is here.
Click to expand...

Oh my gosh! This woman is completely nuts!
 
  • #237
  • #238
Collins’ family released a statement Wednesday morning about the new developments.

“We, the family, would like to thank the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and the Arkansas State Police for their continued vigilance and swift response in dealing with this latest incident. We have full faith that the investigators acted on solid evidence supporting these charges and not just on a whim. We appreciate the transparency shown by all agencies involved in this matter. These newest charges further cement in our minds that the police have arrested the right person. Rebecca O’Donnell’s threats are being treated very seriously but have not deterred our faith in what we are committed to, justice for Linda. Thank you all for your continued support, prayers and well wishes.”
Linda Collins' family

Tim Loggains, O’Donnell’s fiance, released a statement on Jan. 14 said the following:

“My family’s faith in Becky is unwavering. We cannot imagine the evidence will actually substantiate these allegations. The allegations defy believability. I won’t even comment on the informant’s extensive criminal history but instead will wait to see if the State produces credible evidence at trial.”
Tim Loggains

Family of Linda Collins speak out on new charges suspect faces
 
  • #239
Momof4RN said:
Snipped from article

According to a probable cause affidavit filed on Tuesday, O'Donnell spoke to four different inmates at the county jail about arranging to kill Phil Smith, Collins' ex-husband, and have the death look like a suicide. O'Donnell is also alleged to have solicited an attempt to blow up her car to "destroy any evidence that may be in the vehicle," according to the affidavit.

Snip

Boyce, the former prosecutor, withdrew from Collins' murder case last year along with a judge who had previously been assigned to the matter. A new prosecutor, Robert Dittrich, has been assigned to handle the case.

No initial court date has been scheduled on the new charges against O'Donnell.

Woman held in killing of former Arkansas lawmaker faces new charges
Click to expand...

Good heavens, sounds like this woman has completely lost it!
 
  • #240
There is literally not a redeemable person in this whole thing.

Aide Accused of Murdering Former Arkansas State Senator Offered ‘Gold’ From Jail for Hit on Ex: Prosecutors
A woman awaiting trial for allegedly killing a former Arkansas state senator was hit with new charges Tuesday after she promised fellow inmates she would give them “gold and silver” to murder the victim’s ex-husband and his new wife, prosecutors said.

Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell, who pleaded not guilty to several charges in the June murder of former State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, was slapped with two counts of soliciting to commit murder and two counts of solicitation to commit tampering with physical evidence in connection with the elaborate plot she allegedly tried to orchestrate from prison.

The former campaign staffer for Collins-Smith has been behind bars since June 14—10 days after the 57-year-old Republican was found fatally stabbed and wrapped in a blanket under a tarp at the end of her Pocahontas, Arkansas, driveway.
 
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