In the early morning hours of October 17, 2022, the life of 28-year-old Krystle 'LeeAnn' Wilder, a Caucasian female, was tragically cut short in her Benton, Arkansas, apartment. A devoted preschool teacher and mother, her world revolved around her young daughter, Amani. Those who knew her remember a woman with a big heart who brought light to everyone she met.
Her family described her as a positive person who was deeply committed to her loved ones.
The events that led to her death unfolded in a violent domestic disturbance. Her partner, 39-year-old Demontra Hatfield, shot and killed her in their apartment. Tragically, their three-year-old daughter was present during the incident and sustained a gunshot wound, but survived her injuries. Following the shooting, Hatfield fled the scene, taking Wilder's body and their injured child with him.
Hatfield's attempt to flee led to further tragedy. After leaving Benton, he traveled to Little Rock where he was involved in a car accident with 61-year-old Larry Foster. Hatfield then shot and killed Foster, a man with whom he had no known connection. Eventually, Hatfield sought medical help for his daughter at a Little Rock hospital, which led to his apprehension by authorities. When questioned by police, inconsistencies in his story and the discovery of Wilder's body in the trunk of her car led to his arrest.
Demontra Hatfield was subsequently charged with a multitude of crimes, including first-degree murder for the death of Krystle Wilder and capital murder for the death of Larry Foster. His other charges included abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and endangering the welfare of a minor. A Saline County jury found Hatfield guilty on all counts, and a judge sentenced him to life in prison plus an additional 170 years.
