Quake Lewellyn, 28 years old of Jonesboro has been arrested and charged in the murder of Sydney Sutherland. Lewellyn is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail under charges of Homicide- Capital Murder.
Three Generations of the Lewellyns were recognized as the 2016 Jackson County Farm Family of the Year, including grandson Quake Lewellyn. They farm 5,800 acres in four counties — Jackson, Independence, Poinsett and Craighead.Â
Quake Lewellyn was a member of a Facebook group that was created when Sutherland went missing. The group posted missing flyers and discussion of the investigation of the disappearance of Sydney Sutherland.
Quake Lewellyn’s wife was Facebook friends with Sydney Sutherland, Lewellyn’s wife Gracie, deleted her Facebook account soon after her husband’s arrest and Quake Lewellyn’s account was removed by someone on Saturday.
Law enforcement announced the discovery of Sutherland’s body August 21st, 2020, Friday afternoon after a three day search for the missing woman.
Authorities released on Saturday that the Arkansas State Medical Examiner confirmed that the body recovered Friday in Jackson County was Sydney Sutherland. Sheriff Lucas stated Saturday that the state medical examiner’s office confirmed the identity through DNA.
Sheriff David Lucas released the information on Friday in an interview that a Jonesboro man was being held in jail on a homicide charge in connection with the case. In the same interview Lucas stated a body of a female .believed to be Sutherland, was found around 2 p.m. Friday. The body was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for positive identification. Sheriff Lucas did not formally release the name of the suspect pending charges in the case. Sheriff Lucas did acknowledge the suspect did know the victim.
Earlier Jackson County law enforcement had confirmed they had found a body in the search area. Sheriff Lucas confirmed that the body was found around 2 p.m. Friday.
Sutherland had not been seen since August 19th, 2020, Wednesday afternoon. Jackson County authorities received a call Wednesday evening reporting Sutherland missing. She was last seen jogging off Highway 18 between Newport and Grubbs around 3 p.m. according to reports.
In a 1 p.m. press conference on Friday, Sheriff David Lucas told media that Sutherland had not yet been found, and there were really no new developments in the case.
Sutherland’s vehicle and personal items were still at her residence. Jackson County Sheriff David Lucas confirmed Thursday that authorities found Sydney Sutherland’s cell phone about a quarter-mile from her home along Highway 67.
Sheriff Lucas confirmed that a UPS driver notified them that she did see Sutherland Wednesday afternoon near County Road 41 jogging.
Lucas stated with that sighting, and the phone pings they’re concentrating on that area, saying Sutherland normally walked a loop between County Road 41, 42, 43, and Highway 18.
Sutherland worked out at a Jonesboro Gym earlier that day before returning home to go for her run.
25 year old, Sydney Sutherland was nurse at Unity Health Harris Medical Center, Sutherland lived with her boyfriend not far from where she was last seen running.