Tammy Curtis, Publisher

Several residents reported to this news agency on Oct. 22 that there was a significant law enforcement presence near an apartment complex on Highway 201 in Mountain Home. The presence was later confirmed to be the service of a multi-jurisdictional search warrant for a suspect being sought regarding a double homicide in Agnos, in Fulton County on Oct. 20-21. 

The victims were found inside a home on Sweet Clover Lane on Oct. 21 after a family member called the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department. The actual date the homocides occurred has not been positively determined. The victims were identified today, Oct. 23, in a news release by the Arkansas State Police as, 54-year-old Tonya Stallings and 33-year-old Ashley Stallings, both of Ash Flat. (Agnos homes have Ash Flat postal addresses).

Releases provided by Fulton County Sheriff Jake Smith to other news agencies in the area this afternoon, confirmed that the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Marshals, Baxter County Sheriff’s Department, and Mountain Home Police Department executed a search warrant for 32-year-old Jacob Lowell J. Smith, who was believed to have been living in the apartment complex. He was not located at the complex. 

Smith was wanted as an absconder from the Arkansas Probation and Parole for violating the terms of his probation. He was a person of interest in the double homicide and has an active drug felony case in Van Buren County. 

At the time of the discovery of the bodies, information regarding a truck missing from the house was provided to the police by the family around 3 p.m. This information was not passed along to the public or police who were not directly involved in the investigation. 

By the morning on Oct. 22, the Arkansas State Police, who were assisting the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department in the investigation, released what was first an officer safety BOLO. It contained the description of the truck as well as information on two missing guns from the home, one of which was a shotgun. The BOLO indicated they had then been entered into ACIC by the ASP.  

Later, a warrant for Smith’s absconding was issued with a statewide extradition waiver. Still, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department did not issue any public statements for safety.

This news agency had a multitude of calls, texts, and messages about the double homicide all day. Into the night, and on Wednesday. Many provided information we have not used to keep the case secure. 

The Fulton County Sheriff’s Department still released no information to inform residents to keep their doors locked out of caution. This news agency suggested late that night that Sheriff Smith simply issue a very basic statement confirming the crime and an open investigation, without releasing the victims’ names in the interest of public safety and to respect the families privacy during their losses.

There was also no information given to city officers or other sheriffs in the vicinity who were asked about the incident, Even at 9:30 p.m. several had no idea of the crime. At that time, the sheriff knew the vehicle and the “person of interest” description. Investigators with the Arkansas State Police were processing the scene throughout the night and on Wednesday. 

Instead, Sheriff Smith said, “I would prefer the person we are trying to locate not know we are actively hunting for them.” (A double murder suspect, with a lengthy criminal history of felonies dating back to 2017, including violence and fleeing from officers).

This news agency obtained the information from the Arkansas State Police issued BOLO and the subsequent absconding warrant issued late the next morning. We released information about the suspect and vehicle in the interest of public safety as it appeared the sheriff was not going to let the public know a possible double murderer was not captured. We were still receiving several messages from fearful residents. 

Moments after the SRC news release, the sheriff sent us a series of texts, saying he was angry that the information had been released. He alleged the release of the stolen vehicle description and photo of Smith had “put officers’ lives at risk.”  Officers who might have been patrolling at this time and weren’t deputies with Smith and privy to the crime information still had no idea a crime had occurred, who they were seeking, or a vehicle description. 

Three officers who were asked about their knowledge of the homicides and whether the sheriff had provided them with information to protect themselves in the event they were to encounter the suspect vehicle did not know of any of the descriptions, even the following day, until the SRC released the information. All stated that the information they had came solely from the SRC news article. Sheriffs in two other counties also had not been provided with any information by Sheriff Smith. 

The sheriff said, “It is absurd to think he may still be in the area,” due only to the fact that officers were pinging his cell phone, which he may or may not have had. In many criminal cases, that is the first thing known felons rid themselves of, often having multiple phones. Phone pinging is typically the fastest and easiest way to find a suspect and the first thing utilized by law enforcement.

After the SRC release, Sheriff Smith then quickly granted releases to various media outlets (not this one), assuring them there was no threat to public safety. This was despite knowing a now-wanted man, who was a friend of at least one of the victims and his family had been known to them for a long period of time, had stolen a truck and two guns and possibly killed two women. 

Earlier the day of the discovery, a woman from Mountain Home reported seeing Smith and his truck in the city and said she had reported it to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department (only after seeing the news release). She was told they would make a note of it. It is unclear whether Sheriff Smith advised residents in the area that they were seeking a possible double murderer. 

The sheriff told other media agencies earlier today, that if Smith had any involvement in the murders, he would most likely flee. So, law enforcement decided it would be best to get sufficient evidence to obtain a warrant before proceeding to the apartments.

Smith was not at the apartment complex, and the Fulton County Sheriff told the media it is clear that at some point, Smith learned he had an active warrant and was named as a person of interest in the murders. Most would agree that any seasoned felon and possible murderer would reasonably expect to be sought by law enforcement for such a crime, especially days later. 

The sheriff says that if you see Smith or have information that may help locate him, please contact the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at 870-895-2601. He also added not to approach Smith, as he is dangerous and may be armed- Despite telling the public they weren’t in danger.  

While it is still unclear where Smith is, this news agency makes no apologies for providing our readers with vital safety information from the state’s most trusted law enforcement entity, the Arkanas State Police, so Fulton County and other county residents can make decisions about their families’ safety until Smith is captured. 

We will always, and have always, respected the privacy of law enforcement during investigations and never asked for anything beyond the sheriff verifying the crime and providing a vehicle description and, if available, possible suspect information to the public and other law enforcement so they could protect themselves.  

The Arkansas State Police’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are assisting the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation of the deaths.

We will continue to provide information as soon as we receive it. 

According to the original Officer Safety BOLO and subsequent absconding warrant and information issued by the Arkansas State Police on Oct. 22, The truck being sought is 2004 Red Dodge Ram 1500 pickup with license plate numbers BEH-93R that was stolen from the homicide scene. Two firearms were also stolen, a Sears pump action shotgun, with a painted black wooden stock, and an unknown serial number and a Charter Arms .38 Special Serial # 53810-22L33297. Smith was traveling in an unknown direction. He may be armed and dangerous and has violent tendencies.
Smith is considered dangerous. If located, ASP requests that they contact them about their location and exercise extreme caution if approaching him.
I’ve attached his most recent booking photo, taken on Sept. 30 in Van Buren County, when he was arrested for Possession of a Controlled substance, as well as recent social media photos. The most notable visible marker is a tattoo of a bow tie on his neck and facial tattoos. A closeup photo is also provided above. Smith’s address at his Oct. 3 arrest in a Clinton, Ark. Super 8 Hotel is 311 Lawrence Road in Smithville, Ark., which has been reported may be that of his parent’s , according to a neighbor. Smith is listed as a habitual offender with felony cases dating back to 2017.

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