New Information: Baxter County Murder Victim, Suspect Identified
By: KOLR10 News
Updated: January 1, 2013
SALESVILLE, Ark. -- The Baxter County, Ark., sheriff's office is releasing the name of the woman found dead at her home Monday night.
She is identified as Lisa Kay Smith, 45. She appears to have been beaten to death.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says his deputies got a 9-1-1 about 10:30 Monday night about a possible death. They went to a home on Broadview Circle in Salesville, Ark., and found Smith lying on the floor of the living room, covered in blood.
Her body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.
Montgomery says the suspect, David Craig Smith, 53, was arrested after he was found hiding in a neighbor's yard.
According to the sheriff, despite sharing the same last name, it is not believed the two were married but are boyfriend and girlfriend.
After taking statements from witnesses and searching the home, investigators believe Lisa Smith was beaten around the head and neck with a claw hammer and knife.
David Smith is being held without bond in the Baxter County, Ark., jail on capitol felony murder charges.
