Salem, AR. – One of the Fulton County murders committed in the past couple of weeks was reportedly done out of a dispute over land, according to the probable cause statement on the investigation.
The case began on June 1st when Fulton County Sheriff Jake Smith was called out to 1174 Briarwood Road. The body of David Southerland was found by a gate there, and was heavily damaged. The victim had at least one gunshot wound to the back, had been partially burned, the head was severely beaten, and a piece of barbed wire was wrapped around the neck.
Stacie Hickman was found in the victim’s vehicle on June 2nd, and was taken in for questioning later. On June 3rd, Hickman admitted in an interview to having shot and burned the corpse. She went on to admit in the interview that the victim was attempting to acquire some land she was “supposed to get”.
The murder weapon was a rifle that was in the vehicle she had borrowed at the time of the murder. Hickman stated she had shot him once with it, causing his death.
