Mother of victim questions release of missing Jefferson County capital murder suspect

Neale Zeringue
·2 min read
Mother of victim questions release of missing Jefferson County capital murder suspect

PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Jefferson County authorities are looking for a capital murder suspect a district judge previously released from custody.

Donovan Cuthbertson is accused of shooting two people and killing Rachel Crouch last September. He was released from jail in January because the Jefferson County Prosecutors filed criminal charges days after a deadline that fell during Thanksgiving holiday.

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While released, Cuthbertson was charged with other felony crimes which prompted the judge to reverse his decision.

Cuthbertson would have been put in custody had he shown up for his court date on April 4, but he skipped it, so the judge put out a warrant for his arrest.

Both the prosecution and Rachel Crouch’s mother said they are frustrated with how things happened.

“I feel like they don’t really care ’cause it didn’t happen to them,” Elberta Crouch said.

“Some judges agree with us that you cure it (the deadline) by filing the felony information, so it is just that our judge doesn’t see it the way we see it, so we’ve been doing our best to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Jefferson County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said.

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The Pine Bluff Police Department posted Cuthbertson’s picture on social media on May 1 asking for the public’s help finding him.

Donovan Daniel Cuthbertson courtesy of Pine Bluff Police Department
Donovan Daniel Cuthbertson courtesy of Pine Bluff Police Department

A police spokesman explained it took a month to advertise the capital murder suspect’s warrant because it is the county’s responsibility to execute warrant searches, and there was no request to share it until PBPD detectives who worked on the initial case asked the public information officer to share it.

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KARK 4 News called the judge’s office and Cuthbertson’s defense attorney for comment, but as of this report have not heard back.

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