In the quiet, rural setting of Mountain View, Arkansas, the life of 57-year-old Leslie Jo Mixon, a white female, came to a tragic and violent end on January 30, 2023. Known affectionately as 'Jo-Jo' to her family and friends, she was a woman with a deep appreciation for nature, finding joy in watching eagles, caring for her goats and other animals, and tending to her yard.
Her peaceful existence was shattered in a shop building on Jensen Road, southeast of town, where she was fatally shot.
The events leading to her death culminated in a tense situation for law enforcement. Her husband, 50-year-old Fred Michael Mixon, contacted the Faulkner County Sheriff, a man he knew personally, to report that he had shot and killed his wife. He stated he would only surrender to this specific sheriff. When authorities, including Stone County deputies, Arkansas State Police, and Arkansas Game and Fish officers, arrived at the residence, they found Fred Mixon barricaded inside and making threats. After a period of negotiation, he was taken into custody without further incident. At the time of his surrender, he was armed with a loaded. 45-caliber handgun.
Upon executing a search warrant, investigators discovered Leslie Mixon's body in the shop building. She had sustained a shotgun wound to her face. A 12-gauge shotgun, with a spent shell casing still in the barrel, was also found at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that the shotgun blast was the cause of her death, and the manner was ruled a homicide. During an interview with law enforcement, Fred Mixon reportedly stated that he 'broke' when his wife 'laughed in my face.'
Fred Michael Mixon was charged with first-degree murder, the most serious crime in Arkansas not punishable by the death penalty, and was held on a $1,000,000 bond. However, in a final twist to this tragic story, Fred Mixon was found dead at his residence near Mountain View on December 11, 2024, before his trial could take place. While his death remains under investigation, authorities have stated that no foul play is suspected.
