As the year comes to a close, TXK Today takes a look back at the most-read stories of 2016.
This year, we’re reviewing the top 20 articles of 2016. Here’s the first of two countdown posts this week.
20. Developing story: TAPD investigating murder-suicide
Two men were been found dead in Texarkana, Arkansas the afternoon of March 29th. Police investigated the incident as a possible murder-suicide.
Texarkana Arkansas Police Department responded to a call at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 29th, to the 1000 block of Cleveland Street disturbance call concerning an eviction, according to Texarkana, Ark. Police Public Information Officer Kristi Bennett.
When police arrived on scene they found Darryl Kidd, late 30’s, dead in the front yard with a suspected self-inflicted shot wound. Aaron Kidd, 31, was found dead inside the home.
19. Bail set at $100,000 for woman accused of shooting girl with AR-15
A woman accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Caitlin Caskey, in Little River County made her initial appearance in an Ashdown, Ark. courtroom.
According to the investigator Dierks was answering the door with an AR-15 rifle as people arrived at the party. One teen asked Dierks if the gun was loaded at which time she grabbed the receiver handle and the gun fired one shot.
Caskey was shot in the chest and the bullet then went through the jacket of boy standing behind her, according to testimony given by the investigator.
18. Police investigate hit list at Redwater High School
Police investigated after a “hit list” was discovered containing names of Redwater High School students as well as faculty.
The evening of January 21st, a “hit list” began circulating on popular social network Twitter, quickly going viral.
Though the list did not indicate any plans for violence, the name of the list was alarming for students, parents, faculty and authorities.
According to Superintendent Dr. Kathy Allen, “this was a list of 50 names of staff and students, following with the two authors’ descriptive opinion of those people,” she went on to say that the list “used very crude language and it was very hurtful [to students and staff] but it did not cause worry about any physical threat of violence to anyone mentioned on the list.”
17. Traffic stop leads to large drug bust
A routine traffic stop by Nash, Texas Police resulted in the discovery of multiple drugs and $46,000 in cash on October 25th.
According to Nash Police Detective Michael Sutton, shortly before 3 p.m. Nash officers conducted a traffic stop on Dustin Terrace in Nash, TX. As a result of the stop, officers located just under a pound of marijuana, and codeine. The driver, Tyundrae Foster was arrested for possession of marijuana over 4oz under 5 lbs. and possession of a controlled substance in penalty group 1 over 4g under 200g, both of which are felonies.
Robinson was charged with possession of marijuana over 5 lbs. under 50 lbs. and money laundering, both of which are felonies.
16. Man arrested Monday for 18 felonies, nine misdemeanors, involving sexual abuse of animals
A man already facing animal abuse charges involving alleged sexual misconduct with a miniature horse was arrested on August 10th for 18 felonies and nine misdemeanors involving horses and dogs.
Ryan Danyl McDonald, 38, was arrested in July 2015 on a miniature horse farm in Genoa, Ark., and charged with misdemeanor bestiality and criminal trespassing. McDonald allegedly confessed to “fornicating,” with a miniature mare. At the time of that arrest, McDonald allegedly admitted he had videos of himself on his cell phone engaging in sex with animals, according to a probable cause affidavit.
15. Hooks man killed in motorcycle accident on FM 2148
A Hooks, Texas man died from injuries received when his motorcycle crashed into a car on FM 2148, in the morning of August 23rd.
According to Texas DPS Trooper Sylvia Jennings, troopers responded to the crash around 11:25 a.m. Monday on FM 2148 approximately a quarter mile wast of Carol Lane.
Kodi Scott was transported to St. Michael Hospital and then airlifted to Baptist Medical Center Hospital in Little Rock where he was pronounced dead at 9:07 p.m. by Dr. Michael Pollock.
14. 16-year old in custody after shooting woman with shotgun
A 16-year-old male was arrested after shooting a woman in Redwater and then leading police on a high speed chase down U.S. 67.
At approximately 12:24 p.m. on January 11th, a 16 year-old male fired shots into a home on Fagan Ln off Highway 67 in Redwater with a shotgun, claiming the life of a woman inside, according to Bowie County Sheriff Prince.
When deputies arrived to the residence, the 16 year-old fled the scene heading down Highway 67 East towards Texarkana. The man was chased and later arrested in Wake Village.
According to Prince, the suspect shot into the house from the outside, killing a woman inside the house. According to Sheriff Prince the woman did not live inside the home, she was only visiting. The shooter had no relationship to the woman involved.
13. Miller County suspects arrested in drug bust make first appearances
Six Miller County suspects involved in a joint operation drug bust appeared in Miller County Court the afternoon of May 17th for initial appearances.
A team effort from multiple agencies led to the arrest of several suspects in the involvement of a large scale methamphetamine distribution syndicates involving narcotics trafficking and distribution in the areas of Texarkana and Miller County, Arkansas.
The Bi-State Narcotics Task Force, (Comprised of detectives who are employed by TAPD and MCSO) working with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Marshall Service, and working in conjunction with the Arkansas 8th Judicial South Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Arkansas, spent 8 months investigating this large scale distribution operation which led to the identification and arrest of several suspects, six of which appeared in Miller County Court.
Miller County Authorities confirmed the body of a man reported missing was found, on July 10th.
According to Miller County authorities, the body of 39-year-old Brent Crabtree, was found in a wooded area not far from his home.
According to a missing poster Crabtree was reported missing last week by his family after he hadn’t been seen since July 5.
11. Woman stabbed in Walmart parking lot, police investigate
A 34-year-old woman was stabbed in the parking lot of Texas side Wal-Mart located on 4000 W. New Boston Road in Texarkana, Texas just after 6 p.m. on July 14th.
Texarkana Texas Police Department and LifeNet responded to the stabbing incident at approximately 6:12 p.m.
Upon arriving on scene, officials found the stabbing victim who had received injuries to her wrist. The suspect who allegedly stabbed the woman using a box cutter that belonged to the 34-year-old victim had already fled the scene.
According to TTPD Spokesperson Officer Shawn Vaughn, the woman was leaving Walmart when she met up with her child’s father’s relative and engaged in an altercation which turned violent.
