In the quiet town of Dumas, Arkansas, the summer of 2015 was shattered by a brutal act of violence that claimed the lives of two promising young men. On June 11th, 18-year-old Michael Shawn Reeves Jr., a Black male, and his friend, Kentarrious Racces Madden, also 18, were found dead inside a home on Evergreen Street. Both teenagers had been fatally shot in the head, their bodies discovered in the kitchen of the residence.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the close-knit community, leaving friends and family grappling with an unimaginable loss. Both Reeves and Madden were recent graduates of Dumas New Tech High School and were remembered as talented athletes with bright futures ahead of them.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led authorities to 32-year-old Vernyell Yarquis Mosby, the owner of the home where the young men's bodies were found. The motive for the senseless killings appeared to be rooted in jealousy. Mosby's former girlfriend of eight years, Korea Myles, had recently ended their relationship and had begun dating Michael Reeves. This new relationship was something Mosby was reportedly unable to accept. In the days leading up to the tragedy, Mosby had allegedly expressed his anger and resentment, telling Myles, 'I'm not fixin' to let no 18-year-old take you from me.'
On the evening of the murders, Michael Reeves had gone to Mosby's house, despite warnings from a concerned Myles who had a bad feeling about the meeting. When Myles could not reach Reeves, her growing apprehension led her to contact the Dumas Police Department, urging them to check on the situation at Mosby's residence. When officers arrived, Mosby initially denied them entry. However, after some time, he relented and allowed a search of the home. It was then that the horrifying discovery was made; the bodies of Reeves and Madden were found concealed under rugs in the kitchen.
Vernyell Yarquis Mosby was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with two counts of capital murder. He was held without bond at the Dumas City jail. The tragic deaths of Michael Reeves and Kentarrious Madden left a permanent scar on the community of Dumas, a stark reminder of how a personal dispute could escalate into a devastating act of violence, cutting short two young lives filled with potential.
