In the quiet, rural community of Umpire, Arkansas, a tragedy unfolded on July 10, 2020, ending the life of 51-year-old Betty Renee Burgess. A female resident of the area, Ms. Burgess was discovered deceased inside her home on Highway 246 by Howard County Sheriff's Deputies shortly after 8:30 in the morning. The circumstances of her death immediately pointed towards a violent end, prompting an investigation by the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division.
Witnesses at the
scene reported seeing a Nashville, Arkansas man armed with a shotgun at the back door of Ms. Burgess's residence. This individual was seen departing from the home in a distinctive orange or yellow 2008 Ford Ranger. An alert was issued for the vehicle as law enforcement began a search for the man who was wanted for questioning in connection with the suspicious death.
The investigation into Betty Burgess's death took a somber turn when the man sought by authorities was found. The suspect, who was connected to the case, ultimately took his own life. While initial reports did not name the individual, later information suggested a tragic domestic link to the devastating event. The focus of the investigation would ultimately provide a grim resolution to the search for a suspect, closing the case with a second death.
Betty Renee Burgess, known to her loved ones as 'Sissy,' was a farmer and a member of the Bissell Chapel Community Church. She was remembered as a loving grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Her body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine the official cause and manner of death. The case left the small community in shock, grappling with the sudden and violent loss of one of their own.
