On May 3, 2017, at approximately 12:30 AM, 37-year-old Steve Ault was found deceased in a ditch near the 8900 block of Via Lane, just outside the Pine Bluff city limits in Jefferson County, Arkansas. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation led authorities to arrest 33-year-old Jeremy Mickens, who was apprehended without incident in the front yard of a neighboring residence where his girlfriend lived.
Mickens was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Ault's death.
Steve Ault was known for his kind and caring nature, always ready to lend a hand to those in need. He worked as a construction worker and was also an accomplished tattoo artist. He enjoyed the outdoors and working with his hands, whether working on his old truck or creating tattoos.
The circumstances surrounding Ault's death suggest that he may have been helping someone in a difficult situation when he was fatally shot. His sister, Robin Franklin, mentioned that Ault was known for assisting others, even strangers, and that he might have been helping someone when the incident occurred.
The arrest of Jeremy Mickens brought some closure to the case, but the community mourned the loss of a man who was described as a protector, loving, and loyal. His family and friends remember him as a kind-hearted individual who would do anything for those he loved.
