In the early morning hours of May 25, 2016, the life of 39-year-old Rachel Michele Chisum of Atkins, Arkansas, was tragically cut short. A white female, Rachel was discovered in her vehicle on James Circle in Russellville after it had veered off the road and struck a fence. Responding to a disturbance call just before 8 a.m., police found her inside the still-running car, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
At the scene, authorities encountered 42-year-old William Edward Gray of
Russellville, who was promptly taken into custody. Court documents later revealed that Gray and Chisum had been in a romantic relationship that had ended. When questioned by officers, Gray admitted to the shooting, stating that Chisum 'was busting up my car and I shot her.' He directed them to the gun he had used, which was lying on his nearby front patio.
William Edward Gray was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The subsequent investigation and trial brought forth more details about the strained relationship between the two, including previous instances where Gray had contacted the police regarding what he described as harassing behavior from Chisum. Gray claimed that on the morning of the shooting, Chisum had attacked him with a knife and a screwdriver. However, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to forty years in prison, with an additional fifteen-year enhancement for using a firearm in the commission of the murder. An appeal of his conviction was later denied.
Rachel Chisum was remembered as a loving mother to her three children, a cherished daughter, sister, and aunt. Born in Danville, Arkansas, her death left a deep void in the lives of her family and friends.
