Two days after Sydney Sutherland’s disappearance, searchers found the body of the 25-year-old Jackson County woman, and now a man she knew is behind bars, awaiting official charges later Monday afternoon.
Quake Lewellyn (pictured), 28, was booked in the Jackson County Jail Friday evening around 6:45 on capital murder charges. Lewellyn’s city of residence is listed as Jonesboro in the booking information.
A Newport source said Lewellyn farms with his family in the area where Sutherland (pictured below) was last seen Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19, around 2:30 to 3. It’s also the area where Sutherland’s body was found on Friday after a massive search, according to authorities.
Although some Little Rock news outlets quickly confirmed Friday the body that was found was that of Sutherland’s, Sheriff David Lucas called a Jonesboro television later that day and stated that the body had not yet been confirmed to be Sutherland’s.
Reports note it was through a DNA sample that authorities at the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office verified the body was, in fact, that of Sydney Sutherland.
Lucas also held off initially identifying Lewellyn as the suspect, as well, until later this past weekend.
Lewellyn’s first court appearance is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. at the Jackson County Courthouse in the court of Judge Harold Erwin.
Authorities have said the investigation is still open.
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