FULTON COUNTY, AR (TCD) – A 30-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing a man, attempting to burn his remains, and dumping his body in front of someone’s front gate.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Dennis Berry contacted the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at 9 a.m. on June 1 to report a body in front of his gate on Briarwood Road. When Fulton County Sheriff Jake Smith and Lt. William Fawcett arrived at the home, they discovered David Southerland with “at least one wound” on his back and severe head wounds. According to the complaint, Southerland had a piece of barbed wire wrapped around his neck, and “an attempt was made to burn his body.”
At the site, investigators gathered evidence, including a “partial can of lighter fluid.”
Berry told investigators that on May 30, Stacie Hickman came to his residence and borrowed his Ford Ranger. She allegedly requested that David Southerland follow her in his Dodge Caliber. Hickman and Southerland, according to the affidavit, “had been around each other a lot and were friends.”
Southerland’s automobile was reported stolen not long after investigators discovered his death.
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Hickman allegedly returned Berry’s Ford on May 31, but a Salem Police Department officer observed Hickman inside Southerland’s automobile on June 2. The officer arrested her for receiving stolen property.
Hickman allegedly admitted to fatally shooting Southerland and burning his body during an interview with investigators. She allegedly used a rifle discovered inside Berry’s car by investigators.
The affidavit states that Hickman “stated during the interview that David was trying to get some land that she was supposed to get.”
She contacted her father on May 31, saying, “Hey it’s on the property… have a little issue but I have it taken care of via our loyalty to the land and Convo didn’t go well but umm let them know I’ll be there shortly. I’m fixing to pull in.”
She was detained on first-degree murder, felony with a firearm, and corpse abuse charges.