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Man in prison for killing wife in 2018 pleads not guilty to 1991 murder of Huntsville woman hitchhiking

Headley lived in Mountain Home in 1991 and allegedly admitted to killing Underwood to a fellow Varner inmate.

GOULD, Ark. — 48-year-old Rick Headley, who is currently serving a life sentence in an Arkansas prison after pleading guilty to killing his wife in 2018, has pleaded not guilty for the 1991 killing of a Huntsville woman.

Headley was charged with first-degree murder on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, for allegedly admitting to killing 19-year-old Sabrina Underwood in January 1991, Arkansas State Police said.

On Nov. 13, he pleaded not guilty to the charge, which came after an investigation from state police who said he admitted to the murder to an inmate, who then told investigators. His trial has been set for March 2024.

Police said that in January 1991, 19-year-old Sabrina Underwood was dropped off by her mother near Bear Creek in Boone County where she planned to hitchhike to a prison in Calico Rock and visit an inmate.

Underwood was reported missing to the Madison County Sheriff's Office.

Three months later in April 1991, ASP said a hunter found items belonging to Underwood near the Gum Springs Cemetery in Fulton County, and authorities found human remains nearby. Underwood was later identified as the victim.

Headley allegedly lived in Mountain Home in 1991 and admitted to killing Underwood to a fellow Varner inmate, ASP said. In July 2022, investigators learned of the admission and during an interview with Headley, he reportedly "gave details of the crime" to investigators.

5NEWS will update this article with more information as it becomes available.

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