Henry Boyce, Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney, announced Gary Lee Fears, 57, of Walnut Ridge was charged today with Murder in the First Degree, a Class Y Felony, punishable by 10 – 40 years or Life in prison. Fears also faces felony enhancement charges for being a felon in possession of a weapon and committing a felony offense in the presence of a child. Convictions of the enhancement charges could increase Fears’ sentence by up to 25 additional years of imprisonment.

​The charges stem from an incident that occurred on December 15, 2017 during a reported dispute between Fears and his roommates over rental payments. The victim, Angel Penn, was found dead in the kitchen of Fears’ home when law enforcement officers arrived.