On a summer day in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the life of 40-year-old Stephanie Malicoat, a female, was tragically cut short. On Saturday, June 22, 2019, police responded to a call about a shooting at a residence on North Patterson Street. Inside, they discovered Stephanie, who had sustained a fatal gunshot wound. She was a mother and a data entry clerk, known by friends and family for her loving heart and caring personality.
Her greatest joy was said to be spending time with her children.
The initial investigation at the scene quickly led to a suspect, 42-year-old Lavar Strickland of Hot Springs. At the time of his initial contact with law enforcement, he was charged with Criminal Use of a Prohibited Weapon and Possession of a Defaced Firearm. The situation escalated significantly as the investigation progressed, painting a much graver picture of the events that had transpired.
Just two days later, on June 24, 2019, the charges against Lavar Strickland were amended to include second-degree murder. In addition to this serious charge, he also faced three felony counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor. Following the upgraded charges, Strickland was held at the Garland County Detention Center on a $600,000 bond, facing the legal consequences of the violent death of Stephanie Malicoat.
