A Marion County man has been arrested for the death of a Lakeway woman reported missing last November. Forty-nine-year-old Jimmy Ray Liverett of Yellville was arrested Tuesday by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service Western Arkansas Fugitive Task Force on charges of capital murder, aggravated robbery, abuse of a corpse and two counts of tampering with physical evidence, all felonies.
According to Marion County Sheriff Gregg Alexander and the probable cause affidavit, the arrest stems from the investigation into the death of 73-year-old Dena Andrews. She was reported missing from her residence in rural Lakeway Nov. 13, and her body was found the next day in a wooded area a short distance from her residence. The victim’s body was found nude and had been covered with leaves and tree branches. There were signs of severe trauma and injury.
A search of the victim’s residence showed blood and drag marks in the dining room. It was noted in the affidavit it was apparent someone had attempted to clean the residence. Investigators also found blood-soaked clothing, a bloody desk chair and seat cushion and a pillow discarded in a trash pit southeast of the residence.
The victim’s body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy which determined she had been shot in the back of the head and the manner of death was listed as homicide.
Liverett was named a person of interest after law enforcement found Andrews’ body. Liverett had lived with the victim prior to the discovery of her body. Investigators said at the time Andrews’ vehicle was missing from her home.
Investigators pinged Liverett’s phone which showed him in Strafford, Missouri. It was learned Liverett had checked into the hotel Nov. 12, prior to Andrews being reported missing. He was arrested by deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office on a theft of property charge as Liverett was in possession of the victim’s missing vehicle.
During questioning, Liverett denied any involvement in Andrews’ death, saying he had been in Strafford since Nov. 11th. He says on the Nov. 10th, he and Andrews had an argument and she told him he needed to look for another place to live. He left in her vehicle, saying she was going to find the title and give it to him at some point. He was asked about a new cellphone he had in his possession. He said he had thrown his old phone out of the car window between Lead Hill and Strafford.
A search of Liverett’s motel room turned up a cell phone that had been placed between the bed mattresses in an apparent attempt to hide it.
The shoes he was wearing were taken into evidence. The shoes were submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Lab and it was determined they contained blood from Andrews.
Investigators used traffic cameras to confirm Liverett was seen driving Andrews’ vehicle Nov. 12 along U.S. Highway 65 and just off Interstate 44 east of Springfield.
Liverett is being held in Marion County Detention Center without bond pending his initial appearance in Marion County Circuit Court.
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