A quiet Sunday afternoon in the scenic area of Oark, Arkansas, turned tragic on November 11, 2018, ending the life of 72-year-old Jane Rust. A resident of Sparkman, Rust was visiting Johnson County with a relative and a friend when she decided to stop and photograph a church. As she stepped out of the vehicle and walked down a trail near the Yale Church on Highway 215, her companions heard a single, loud gunshot and witnessed her fall to the ground.
The shot was fired by 61-year-old Dale Williams, who was hunting in the vicinity. Williams later told authorities that he had seen a deer run across the road and, through the dense brush, he saw a 'white flash' which he mistook for a deer. He fired his. 308 bolt action rifle from a distance of approximately 171 feet, striking Rust. Her body was discovered on the trail with her camera nearby.
An investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of Dale Williams. During their search of his UTV, officers found an empty beer can. Williams admitted to the possibility of having consumed a beer earlier in the day. A toxicology report later confirmed the presence of cannabinoid and methamphetamine in his system. Williams was subsequently charged with manslaughter in the death of Jane Rust. He was arraigned in Johnson County Circuit Court, booked into the detention center, and later released on his own recognizance to await his next court appearance.
