On January 27, 2020, a tragic incident occurred at 803 South Redmond Road in Jacksonville, Arkansas, when a fire engulfed an apartment complex. Firefighters responded promptly, extinguishing the flames and discovering the body of 48-year-old Murphy B. Atkins. The Pulaski County Coroner confirmed that Atkins had died from gunshot wounds, and the fire was intentionally set to conceal the crime.
In the days following the discovery, the Jacksonville Police Department arrested several individuals in connection with Atkins's death. On January 28, 2020, 33-year-old Rayceo Ellis Barber was arrested and charged with capital murder, arson, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of firearms by certain persons. He was held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility without bond.
Subsequently, on February 2, 2020, 34-year-old Norris 'Boo Man' Williams was arrested and charged with tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse. Williams was held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.
On February 4, 2020, two additional arrests were made: 34-year-old Terry Ray Peterson-Davis and 27-year-old Jessica Untonika Buchanan. Both were charged with arson, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence, and were held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility with a $28,500 bond.
The arrests of these four individuals suggest a coordinated effort to murder Atkins and destroy evidence of the crime. The investigation revealed that Barber was the primary suspect in the shooting death of Atkins, while Williams, Peterson-Davis, and Buchanan were implicated in assisting with the arson and subsequent cover-up. The case highlights the severity of the crime and the collaborative efforts of law enforcement in bringing those responsible to justice.
