Found Deceased AR - Vernice 'Duwane' Ledbetter, 29, Johnson County, 31 Dec 2017 *Arrests*

[LisaWL7TR]

Vernice Duwane Ledbetter was last seen in the Clarksville and Ludwig areas of Johnson County on December 31, 2017.

At the time, he was wearing a camouflage hoodie, blue jeans, brown boots and a camouflage ball cap.

Ledbetter is described as a white male who stands at 5'11" and weighs 185 lbs. He has brown hair and green eyes.

http://katv.com/news/local/johnson-county-sheriffs-office-searches-for-missing-man

 

[wdmcmahan]

Vernice Duwane Ledbetter was last seen in the Clarksville and Ludwig areas of Johnson County on December 31, 2017.

At the time, he was wearing a camouflage hoodie, blue jeans, brown boots and a camouflage ball cap.

Ledbetter is described as a white male who stands at 5'11" and weighs 185 lbs. He has brown hair and green eyes.

http://katv.com/news/local/johnson-county-sheriffs-office-searches-for-missing-man

This is local to me and I hadn't heard about it! Ludwig is a lake near Clarksville that has homes along it.

It's late but in the morning I will try to find more info and maybe post a map, if I can figure out how.

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[wdmcmahan]

His missing poster

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[Dalagali]

Sheriff post: https://m.facebook.com/153523500150...523500150/10160030281250151/?type=3&source=48

 

[wdmcmahan]

Body found, not yet identified. I think it might be Vernice... [emoji53]

http://www.thv11.com/mobile/article...3-on-logging-road-in-johnson-county/510901521

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[Gardener1850]

[h=1]Body found on logging road identified as missing Johnson Co. man, 3 men arrested for murder[/h]

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ark. (KTHV) - The body found in the northeastern part of Johnson County on a logging road has been identified as a man reported missing in December.

On January 23, 2018, deputies responded to a location off of State Highway 123, where a body was located on a logging road.

The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory positively identified the body as Ledbetter.

With the positive identification of the body, the sheriff's department released that the three men booked into custody over the weekend for first-degree murder were arrested in connection with the death of Ledbetter.

Brian White, 21; Phillip Raible, 29; and Isaac Vaughn, 20 are each being held on $750,000 bonds. An initial court date has been set for March 1.

http://www.thv11.com/news/crime/bod...on-co-man-3-men-arrested-for-murder/511238717

 

[Gardener1850]

[h=1]Fourth suspect arrested for murder in missing Johnson Co. man's death[/h]

UPDATE: Zachary Aaron Geels was arrested on January 29 at around 2:30 p.m. He is currently being held in the Johnson Detention Center.

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ark. (KTHV) - A warrant has been issued for a fourth suspect in the death of a missing Johnson County man.

Deputies have issued a first-degree murder warrant for 25-year-old Zachary Aaron Geels. Geels is wanted in connection with the death of Vernice “Duwane” Ledbetter.

http://www.thv11.com/news/crime/fou...er-in-missing-johnson-co-mans-death/512034002

 

[wdmcmahan]

4 men are now being charged, wow. What did they do to you, Duwane... and why?

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[LisaWL7TR]

I am curious. Vernice is now id but still remains on NamUs. Will his file be updated or removed?

https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/41754/0/

 

[wdmcmahan]

I am curious. Vernice is now id but still remains on NamUs. Will his file be updated or removed?

https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/41754/0/

It now shows the case as being restricted to authorized users only, so I guess that answers our question. I'm glad the cases seem to stay in the system though, if anyone of authority needs to go back to that information for any reason in the future. Great piece of knowledge right there!

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[iulia]

Murder suspect found fit for trial in Arkansas

A man charged in the murder of Vernice "Duwayne" Ledbetter, 29, of Johnson County has been found fit to stand trial, according to a circuit court filing.

Zachary Aaron Geels didn't have a mental disease or defect at the time of the homicide or when he was examined Dec. 4, according to an evaluation from the Arkansas State Hospital.
[...]
Vaughn and White have pleaded guilty, said Bruce Wilson, the deputy prosecuting attorney in the case.

Geels and Raible are scheduled to stand trial June 24.

 

[iulia]

Johnson County man sentenced for slaying

A Johnson County man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for first-degree murder.

Brian Anthony White, 22, entered a negotiated plea of guilty, according to a sentencing order filed Friday in Johnson County Circuit Court. He was given credit for 421 days in jail.

 

[CaliRoses]

https://couriernews.com/Content/Def...ts-plead-sentenced-in-murder-case/-3/83/54022

Three defendants in the 2018 murder case of Vernice “Duane” Ledbetter pleaded or were sentenced earlier this month in circuit court.

According to the Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Phillip Andrew Raible, 30, pleaded no contest to hindering apprehension or prosecution, a Class B felony, and was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction. He had been originally charged with first-degree murder, but that was dismissed.

Brian Anthony White, 22, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Issac T.M. Vaughn also entered a plea of guilty to first-degree murder, but has yet to be sentenced. A fourth defendant in the case, Zachary Aaron Geels, is in prison with Vaughn.