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William Ray Tate

Case from Fort Smith, AR dated Jan 05, 1981

Victim Details

William Ray Tate

Male

White / Caucasian

Fort Smith

AR

1981-01-05

33

William

Ray Tate

07/17/2026

Case Description

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In January of 1981, the city of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was shaken by the disappearance and murder of one of its own police detectives, William Ray Tate. The 33-year-old male detective vanished while following up on a missing person report. The case began when a local woman and her co-worker went to the police station to report that the woman's husband, Larry Price, was missing. Detective Tate followed the two women back to the Price residence to investigate the matter further. After advising disp ...
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Links to Additional Sources (3)

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  • Detective William Ray Tate, Fort Smith Police Department, Arkansas
  • William Ray Tate (1947-1981) - Find a Grave Memorial
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    Forum Posts (2)

    Has anyone looked into the background of Thomas Simmons, the convicted murderer in the 1981 case? I'... ...Read More
    07/16/2024
    Does anyone else find it haunting that Detective Tate's police vehicle was discovered abandoned so f... ...Read More
    07/11/2024
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