COAL HILL, Ark. — Officers in Johnson County have arrested a homicide suspect connected to an investigation in Texas on Jan. 26, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) said the Angelina County Texas Sheriff's Office (ACSO) has charged Jeremy Gladden, 40, with murder in the death of Lawrence Jason Wise of Zavalla, Texas.
According to the ACSO, Wise was found dead in a shed outside of a residence 10 miles southeast of Zavalla on Jan. 23.
While investigating the crime scene in Texas, deputies found that Wise's white Chevy S-10 pickup trick was missing. The preliminary medical examiner's findings also revealed that Wise had possibly died from a gunshot wound, according to the sheriff's office.
"Deputies developed information that led them to need to talk to Gladden, a relative of Wise’s, but indications were that Gladden appeared to have left town," ACSO said.
Officials said the Angelina County Sheriff's Office reached out to Johnson County on Thursday, Jan. 25, for help in finding the stolen truck related to the case because Gladden reportedly had family in the area.
Officers eventually found the truck near Coal Hill, Arkansas, and later learned that Gladden was hiding in the area.
Johnson County deputies arrested Gladden early Friday morning, Jan. 26. Later that afternoon, crime scene investigators from Angelina County drove to Clarksville to interview the suspect.
Gladden is being held on a warrant for first-degree murder at the Johnson County Detention Center awaiting extradition back to Texas.
Both sheriff's offices said the investigation is ongoing.
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