Stacie Hickman pleaded guilty in an Izard County Court on Wednesday, March 18th on charges of murder in the first degree and abuse of a corpse for causing the death of David Southerland, age 59, in the Viola area in May 2023.
Hickman was sentence by the Judge Tim Weaver to 31 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Affidavit For Probable Cause:
On June1, 2023, at approximately 9:00, the Fulton County 911 Operator received a call from Dennis Berry stating there was a body lying at his gate located 1174 Briarwood Road. Sheriff Jake Smith, and Lt. William Fawcett responded to the call and found the deceased body of David Southerland. The victim had at least one wound to his back, and he had been severely beaten in the head. There was a piece of barb wire around his neck and an attempt was made to burn his body. There were items found and collected at the crime including a partial can of lighter fluid.
On June 2, 2023, Affiant was advised by Dennis Berry that Tuesday, May 30, 2023, Stacie Hickman borrowed his White Ford Ranger and before she left his house, she asks David Southerland who was present to follow her. They left with Stacie Hickman driving the White Ford Ranger and David Southerland in his White Dodge Caliber car. Dennis stated that was the last time hè saw David. He stated that the truck was returned the following day at about 12:00
to 1:00 p.m. Scott Crabtree who resides in a shop building behind Dennis’s residence stated he heard the truck drive in but did not hear one leave, Scott stated he walked down to where the truck was parked but never saw anyone. Dennis Berry’s said the last time they saw or heard from David was when he left his house following Stacie.
Dennis Berry and Scott Crabtree both stated that David Southerland left in his White Dodge Caliber car. David and Stacie. had been around each other a lot and were friends. After Davids body was discovered, and it appeared that he had been murdered, a theft report was done on David’s vehicle and entered in ACICINCIC as stolen. On June 2, 2023, at approximately 8:53 p.m. Salem Police Officer Jim Griffin observed the White Dodge Caliber setting in front of the State Highway Department building on Highway 62. He checked the vehicle and found it occupied by Stacie Hickman. Stacie was taken into custody for the by receiving and taken to the Fulton County Jail.
On June 3, 2023, Fulton County Investigator, Blair Ables interviewed Stacie Hickman and in a post Miranda statement Stacie confessed to shooting and burning David Southerland’s body. She advised the firearm she used was the rifle that was found and seized from the White Ford Ranger on June 2, 2023, by Det. Weaver and Lt. William Fawcett that was parked in the yard of Dennis Berry’s residence. Stacie stated during the interview that David was trying to get some land that she was supposed to get. On the morning of May 31, 2023, she sent a text message to her Father Billy Comstock stating, “Hey it’s on the property… have a little issue but I have it taken care of via our loyalty to the land and Convo didn’t go well but umm let them know I’ll be there shortly. I’m fixing to pull in”. Billy had texted her asking if she had returned the truck and that was approximately 9:00 a.m. and it seemed Stacie’s message was in reference to the truck and the land.
Stacie Hickman stated she shot David Southerland with the rifle one time causing his death and then attempted to burn his body.