The family of LeAnn Frazier, the woman Brock Atkins is accused of stabbing to death, said they want justice to come to everyone who witnessed their daughter's murder.
"I will never see my daughter again," her Mother Joyce Stout said, "And I hope they pay for it, and I know as I'm standing here that he is better off and safe where he's at."
Nineteen-year-old Atkins, of Tontitown, was booked into the Washington County Detention Center Wednesday night (May 21) and faces a capital murder charge, according to the Sheriff's Office Website.
"I don't think anybody deserves this, and I think everybody that is involved should have to suffer just like we are suffering today," Frazier's mother said.
The family said Frazier had been in trouble with the law before, but that she was trying to turn her life around. Her mother said she leaves behind five children ages 5 to 17.
"How do you explain to that baby where her mom is?" Stout said, "You can't because there's no explanation you can give...which I'm not saying my daughter is innocent because she wasn't, but I'm saying no one deserves this treatment."
Frazier's father Marvin Stout said she always had a smile on her face.
"I can't think of anything that would be bad that I could remotely say about her, other than she got caught up with the wrong crowd," her father said.
Police said the altercation between Atkins and Frazier was centered on drugs. Atkins ran the woman down and stabbed her in the throat until she was dead, according to court documents.
The documents state another man coaxed the murder suspect on and threatened to kill him if he did not kill the woman.
A preliminary report on Atkins’ arrest states the victim, Dawn Leeann Frazier, woke Atkins up at 4 a.m. at his home on Story Lane near Tontitown. Atkins told police Frazier and two males he knew had come to his home, and Frazier accused Atkins of stealing methamphetamine from her, the report states.
Atkins said he told Frazier and the two men he had no idea what she was talking about.
“He then stated one of the males which he believed to be Wes (last name unidentified) produced a semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at his head and told him if he didn’t have the drugs, then Leann was lying and he better kill her or Wes would kill him and his family,” the preliminary report states.
The report does not mention Wes’ last name, but the victim’s family told 5NEWS they believe a man named Wesley Randall was involved in the incident. A man named Wesley Randall was booked into the Washington County Detention Center on Wednesday night on suspicion of violating parole, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
The report states Wes then handed Atkins a Gerber brand knife, and Atkins tried to cut Frazier’s throat. Atkins missed, though, and instead cut Frazier across the face. Wes told Atkins to shut Frazier up, and one of them picked up a large piece of wood and threw it at her. It missed and hit the woman in the chest, according to the preliminary report.
Authorities said Wes continued to encourage Atkins to kill Frazier. The preliminary report states, “Leann attempted to run from the residence, so (Atkins) ran her down, tackled her and stabbed her in the throat area until she stopped making any noises. He then dragged her body to a ravine located behind his residence.”
After disposing of Frazier’s body, Atkins cleaned off the knife and took a shower “in order to wash the blood off his body and hair,” the preliminary report states.
Washington County detectives responded to the home on Story Lane Wednesday morning to investigate the deadly stabbing. When authorities arrived on-scene, they found Frazier dead. Deputies shortly afterward placed Atkins into custody, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Frazier’s body will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime lab to determine the official cause of death, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Frazier’s family told 5NEWS she was killed because she was a confidential informant for local law enforcement. Springdale police said that information is unconfirmed, adding they were not and are not actively investigating any drug cases involving the suspect or victim.
Court records show Atkins was awaiting trial in a drug case in Washington County. He was arrested March 26 on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia for meth or cocaine and had a trial date set for June 27, according to court documents.
He was released from jail on bond April 4. He also faced charges at the time of criminal mischief and domestic battery.
The Sheriff’s Office lists Atkins’ address as 579 Story Lane near Tontitown. A call to Atkins’ home went unanswered Wednesday afternoon.
Atkins is awaiting a bond hearing and has a court date set for Friday (May 23), according to the website.