Jeffrey Stansbery (Photo courtesy of Searcy County Sheriff’s Office)
Statements made by a Searcy County man while he was a hospital patient resulted the discovery of a deceased female at his residence and charges brought against the male in connection with a homicide. Twentieth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Carol Crews issued a warrant against Jeffrey Stansbery of St. Joe on felony counts of capital murder and abuse of a corpse.
According to Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell, his office received a call Thursday from personnel at Cox Medical Center in Branson. Hospital personnel told the dispatch center Stansbery had entered the hospital complaining of a medical condition and began making statements in reference to him doing harm to a female. Searcy County investigators then contacted the Branson Police Department and requested they dispatch units to the hospital in order to speak with Stansbery.
After Branson officers spoke with Stansbery, Sheriff Cassell and county investigators went to his residence on Chipley Road for an exigent welfare check. The body of a female was believed to be deceased and concealed.
The Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division was asked to assist in the investigation, and a search warrant was obtained by Searcy County investigators. As the scene was processed, the victim’s body was located. She had allegedly been concealed in a way to avoid detection.
Stansbery, who has a prior violent conviction in Texas, is currently in custody at Branson as he awaits his return to Searcy County. The investigation is continuing.
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