Local Man Arrested for Death of Missing Person [Update]

On Thursday, July 26, 2018 Detectives with the Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas Police Departments began investigating a lead concerning the remains of a missing person previously reported to Texarkana Police.  Late Thursday evening, Detectives were able to locate a person of interest in the case, Chad Jernigan, 41, of Texarkana, Arkansas. While interviewing Jernigan, he admitted to detectives that he had buried a body under a storage building in his back yard. After obtaining a search warrant, detectives have located a body in a shallow grave covered in concrete and dirt. The body is being recovered and will be sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for autopsy.

Although the identity of the deceased has not yet been confirmed by DNA or dental records, Police believe the deceased to be Richard York, missing since July 2017. York’s family has been notified of the discovery.

Chad Jernigan was arrested for Reckless Driving and Abuse of a Corpse. Additional charges are pending further investigation and results of the autopsy.