In the quiet town of Van Buren, Arkansas, a family dispute turned deadly, leaving one brother dead and the other facing a murder charge. Michael Lee Roberts, a 55-year-old male, died on Wednesday, November 18, 2015, in a home he shared with his older brother. The events that unfolded that night were the tragic culmination of what family members described as a history of arguments between the two siblings.
Police were called to the residence in the 400 block of N.
24th Street late on November 18th, following a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Michael Roberts deceased inside the home. The investigation revealed that he had been shot, allegedly with a shotgun, following a physical altercation with his brother. Recently, Michael had moved in with his brother after the end of a relationship, a living arrangement that was apparently fraught with tension.
The suspect in the shooting was quickly identified as Michael's 56-year-old brother, Curtis Don Roberts. After the altercation, Curtis Roberts was taken to a hospital for injuries he sustained before being taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in the death of his brother. Family members acknowledged that the two brothers 'didn't get along' and had a history of disputes. Curtis Roberts was held at the Crawford County Detention Center, with his bond set at $75,000.
