This the story of a man suspected in several murders, charged in one and the unexpected way his life ended.
John Randolph Kizer was born in 1871 and died by his own hand in 1936. Throughout his life, Kizer held many titles, a veterinarian, deputy sheriff, wealthy landowner, county agent and accused murderer.
John Kizer was born in the Dalton community of Randolph County on January 11th, 1871, to farmers Francis Marion Kizer and Catharine Lane Kizer.
Growing up, Kizer’s parents were described as poor farmers and staunch supporters of the former Confederacy. Kizer was the second oldest of five siblings, listed in the 1900 federal census as a farmhand, working on the farm of his parents.
By the time Kizer is in his mid-20’s he is identifying himself as a veterinarian at a time when licenses were rarely required. Kizer was said to be passionate about caring for animals, except he despised dogs and would poison them without hesitation.
Kizer also spent time working as a deputy sheriff.
In 1902, Kizer married a widow and mother of three named Birdie Brooks. The two were considered to be a prominent couple within the community. The two were frequently involved in county affairs, becoming the first county agents for Randolph County.
John Kizer as a county agent taught courses on livestock, fertilization and crop rotation. Kizer also became a special agent with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Birdie Kizer was a special agent for the Girl’s Canning Club of Randolph County, part of a broader program that taught young women basic household/homemaking skills.
The Kizer’s fell on financial hard times after the flood of 1927. In 1927, Kizer convinced his wife to take out life insurance. On December 22nd 1927, Mrs. Birdie Kizer died unexpectedly at St. Bernard’s Hospital in Jonesboro. Doctors noted suspicions, Mrs Birdie Kizer had a swollen arm thought to be caused by injections of poison.
In 1929, John Kizer was said to have lost thousands of dollars in investments during the Stock Market crash. That same year, he married Rosena Bonner Arnold who died of an unknown illness shortly after they married. Rosena Bonner Arnold Kizer had a son named Bonner Arnold, John Kizer was said to have great relationship with the young man and soon was taking on fatherly duties.
Tragedy struck the Kizer family again on October 21, 1935, when Kizer’s stepson Bonner, described by many as a young and healthy football athlete at the Pocahontas High School, suddenly died. The entire rural community was shocked, but speculation began to arise. Not on were the deaths of those closest raising speculation but the question of the recent deaths of Rosena’s parents were no longer viewed as a coincidence.
Authorities requested that Bonner’s body be sent for further analysis in Little Rock and the determination was made that that young man had been poisoned.
John Kizer was arrested, and, for his safety, the police escorted him to a jail outside of Randolph County, where he awaited trial.
As John Kizer was being escorted to his arraignment hearing, the 65 year old collapsed in the arms of officers and later died. Kizer’s cause of death was listened as suicide by poisoning.
A note found on Kizer’s body by Coroner H.G. McNabb claimed he had nothing to do with the boy’s death, blaming the death on a sports injury received playing football.
Kizer also left behind a hand written Last Will And Testament dated the day of his death, dividing his remaining assets and property among his family.
Kizer died on November 19th, 1936, he’s buried in the Reynolds Cemetery in Randolph County.
