On February 14, 2021, at approximately 5:30 a.m., a tragic incident occurred in Hackett, Arkansas, resulting in the death of 34-year-old Stephen D. Basham. Authorities reported that a man forcibly entered a residence on the 300 block of Plum Street by kicking in the front door. Inside, he struck an individual with a baseball bat, causing injuries that required medical attention. The assailant then proceeded upstairs to a bedroom, where he fatally shot Basham multiple times.
At the time of the attack, a woman and three juveniles, aged 9 to 15, were present in the home but fortunately were unharmed.
Following the incident, the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation, leading to the identification and arrest of two suspects. Jeffery Allen Workman, a 46-year-old resident of Fort Smith, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree battery, aggravated residential burglary, possession of a firearm by certain persons, and a parole violation. Jennifer Martin, a 39-year-old from Fort Smith, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree battery. Both suspects were held in the Sebastian County Detention Center, with Workman held without bond and Martin held on a $150,000 cash bond.
The investigation revealed that the firearm used in the murder and the baseball bat used in the battery were recovered by the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office at another location in Fort Smith. Three search warrants were obtained and executed during the investigation, and multiple interviews were conducted to gather evidence.
In December 2022, Workman was convicted of first-degree murder, aggravated residential burglary, and second-degree battery in connection with Basham's death. He was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine.
