He was found still in his seatbelt. "Homebodies don't get in much trouble unless you're kicking down doors," the man said. Minor and Samuelson got probation on the marijuana charge, but were sentenced to five years in prison on a first-degree battery conviction. Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2015. The population of Madison County is 16,521 (2020 Census). Residents say it was a haven for bank robbers and other outlaws in the 1920s. A week later, Knox turned over his allegations and unabridged copies of his files to I.C. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. He even had his revolver, : He approached Baker because he had heard the sheriff was in the market for property in the area. Create a free ODMP account now for these benefits: Create an account for more options, or use this form to leave a Reflection now. Someone recommended this book to my husband and he couldn't wait to start reading it. I'm sure you wouldn't want a bunch of wrecked cars 20 foot from your folks' grave.". Striking the officer in the chest. "He doesn't like that.". At his home he cannot be found. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Meth and murder in Madison County by MICHAEL WHITELEY | October 19, 1997 at 8:52 p.m. HUNTSVILLE From the first radio call two minutes before noon, panic was a partner in the investigation of . "Ralph don't put up with any bull****. Your memory will always be honored and revered. As the votes were being counted, Republican poll watcher Dorothy Hoskins swore in an affidavit, a Huntsville man conducted a dollar-a-chance gun raffle and a drunk wandered in and out of the room. Fogley, the state police investigator and a close friend, blames the Fourth of July fire on misdirected Roman candles. Marshals Service in Fayetteville, also declined to talk about the case. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Despite his license plate, the sheriff doesn't know either. Discover more of the authors books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more. Baker now declines to discuss the Bingham case. He usually makes the money back on drug sales, he said, and worries more about being killed by a supplier than about getting arrested by the sheriff. Baker dismissed that concern during a three-hour interview in June. Sheriff Ralph Baker drowned after his cruiser was washed into a flooded river while he was searching for a stolen vehicle. Read Fayetteville Northwest Arkansas Times Newspaper Archives, Dec 28, 1988, p. 1 with family history and genealogy records from fayetteville, arkansas 1936-2003. But, in pretrial testimony, club owner Jeannie Ward cited three separate incidents involving Baker that night. It's one of the last places where you can get a little privacy.". respects to Sheriff Baker, who was remembered as someone who never backed With Bingham protesting that the baseball cards were his, Sharp tore up the citation he had written. But those who loved him cried. Ralph Baker had served as Sheriff of Madison County, Arkansas, from 1973 until his tragic death on January 5, 1998. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. Please try again. I've got a pistol back there, and -- if somebody comes for me -- I'm ready.". That came soon after Minor and Samuelson had taken one of Baker's informants into the woods and pulled four of his teeth with pliers. Harp's relationship with the sheriff followed her into adulthood. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer. Ralph don't care if you use drugs. Gregory has been convicted of attempting to manufacture methampetamine, Head of possession of drug paraphernalia. at solemn attention as the hearse led by law enforcement officers passed And briefly he thought of his loved ones No one knows when Madison County got the dubious nickname Booger County. He had been Madison County Shierff since about 1972 until his death. An itemization in the auditor's working papers shows $4,511.93 was paid to confidential informants between July 14, 1995, and Oct. 23, 1996. One in every five Madison County residents lives below the poverty level. Cordes and a private investigator who helped him escape from the Washington County jail were later convicted of building the biggest methcathinone lab in U.S. history. Yes, the bullet hit its mark, Create a free ODMP account now for these benefits: Create an account for more options, or use this form to leave a Reflection now. I'm ready for them when they come, though. 'Cause in a moment the officer was dead. Until now. January 9,1998, at the St. Paul High School Gymnasium with a crowd estimated 'Cause a waitress has his salary beat. There are no busts in Madison County. Sheriff Baker's death has touched Madison A 1958 envelope that once held the details of two felonies still sits in the vault of the old courthouse in neighboring Washington County. Most of Baker's transactions have occurred since 1982, with bursts of activity in the late 1980s and 1992-94. "He said, 'He'll get 20 years for it.'". They usually leave him when he uses their share of the crank. A young Huntsville man whose criminal record includes multiple convictions for stealing shares Harp's perception of how things work. Baker's penchant for bare knuckles on the back roads won him the title the "Bull of St. "Then Ralph will put his foot down.". The list of suspects has grown so long that attorneys and police involved in the complex investigation of drugs, sex and deaths uncomfortably joke that the murder produced "the suspect of the week.". So he lay on the ground bleeding. In the last two years, those transactions have involved selling, rather than buying. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. There, Davis said, one man arrived drunk, signed his ballot, and handed it to a Democratic judge to fill out. But tonight he stops a speeding car, consent. This 27 Madison Ave, Suite 050; Lebanon, NJ 148 Main Street; Franklin Lakes (Admin Only) 851 Franklin Lake Road, Suite 204. Everett and Knox asked that Hathorn be required to undergo DNA testing, a request they say brought their feud with Baker to a head. Sharp, who now works for the U.S. This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt. He asked the guy for a driver's license, Revenue Commissioner Tim Leathers said Criss submitted a "routine resignation" while she was under investigation by Baker for issuing phony driver's licenses and license plate stickers. Deborah Roelandts (911 retired) Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Madison County residents could be seen with bumper stickers which said Baker, 59, who shares Arkansas' longest tenure with Monroe County Sheriff Larry Morris, sometimes carries in his personal vehicle drugs seized as evidence. And Everett and Knox said problems with Baker reached the breaking point when they developed fresh leads involving drugs. Madison County Clerk Wes Fowler said as far as he knew such money went only for the payment of confidential informants. MADISON, RALPH L. On Friday, March 18, 2005, of Bethesda, MD. Enfield also rejected a five-page "friend of the court" brief filed by William Jefferson Clinton, a young University of Arkansas law professor. "We are more convinced than ever that we have a lawsuit against all three defendants. Well, he walks up to the driver's window, A letter of condolence from President Ride safe in heaven. Honolulu, HI 96850-0109. Not a well written book but then again this guy was a pot grower not an author per se. Harp was sentenced on May 14, 1996, to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to burglary, theft of property and possession of drug paraphernalia. 185 "They're doing Craig and me and you and everybody one hell of a favor here," Harper reminded Minor. Unable to add item to List. Minor said he called Baker to negotiate and was told things had changed, because Craig was classified as a habitual felon under Arkansas law. "I've never seen anything in writing. He started toward Springdale on Highway 68, taking Deputy Sheriff Phillip Morgan with him. Updated: October 31, 2011 . Most of that land is taxed on its value for agricultural use. Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020. On June 13, 1987, Baker and former Huntsville Police Chief Ed Sharp arrested a 19-year-old retarded Rogers man on allegations he had stolen two baseball cards during the annual "Hawgfest" on the town square. Noah A. Leathem. Clipping found in The Madison County Record in Huntsville, Arkansas on Jan 8, 1998. The records paint a picture of an astute businessman who aggressively bought low and sold high. He worked the regional circuit and opened a store and cafe amid the rolling hills along Arkansas 23. In 1992, Baker and his cousins swapped 320 acres for 284 acres of U.S. Forest Service land. All rights reserved. 'Cause people just don't understand I actually have property there. away from trouble. Phillips paid off the drug debts of her brother, Robert McKnight. He married Noreta Mae Burrell, a St. Paul girl, in March 1956. Most of these, probably if you'd put them in a chronological order, there's not been that much money made off of them down through the years. As prosecutors and investigators sorted through clues obscured by mistakes at the crime scene and the state forensics laboratory, a changing cast of law enforcement officials sardonically wondered who hadn't slept with Billie Phillips -- and who in this rural county lacked a motive to kill her. Both say he is above reproach. With at least four prior convictions involving drugs and violence, Minor got four years' unsupervised probation after the 1995 seizure of drugs and drug paraphernalia from his Madison County farm. Cain was the last of the three to arrive, and he got there at least 10 minutes before Deputy Danny Livermore entered Phillips' blood-spattered bedroom to find the body of the pretty, 35-year-old Alabam woman lying against a wall. Bingham's attorneys alleged that Baker and Sharp then began hitting and kicking Bingham, who the attorneys said had a speech impediment and the mind of an 11-year-old. One former drug dealer, early considered a suspect in the Phillips murder, says he was involved in plans with Hathorn, Dennis Cordes, Rory Allen Gregory and Joe Benton Head to build a methamphetamine lab in a cave neighboring Phillips' house. "Whether it's what you pick from your nose or what your grandmother told you came out of the woods," Baker said, "people don't seem to mind it.". He is in his mid-20s. You didn't want to be on his bad side !!!! ", Another secret is avoiding long-term debt, he said. Forest Service documents on the sale indicate the agency estimated the values of the swapped land to be equal. Want even more control of your Reflection? "What we're probably going to end up doing is allotting about 10 of it over on Craig and five on her just to make it look like we're doing it for both of them instead of just trying to buy Craig out," Harper told Minor. His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red. Martin said the land remains unimproved, "just woods.". Most of Ralph Baker's later transactions involve the R&N Baker Trust, established, apparently in June 1988, with his wife. In 1977, he killed himself with a shotgun at the family store, which burned down soon after his death. Learn more about the program. Rest In Peace. Ralph Baker Dead 1/8/98 for Ralph"Don't waste your time looking for someone like Ralph, because Of how this officer had died. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt. "One guy held a shotgun in my face for over an hour last week. Ham said he asked the Bakers in because "I had just bought some other land and didn't have the money.". Past and Present Sheriffs of Madison County Names that are highlighted or underlined are linked to pages with additional . It all boils down to the fact that they did not want any outsider owning land on that farm. That's no way for a sheriff to be acting," Johnson said he told Baker. She said Baker and other police there to celebrate the marriage of Drug Enforcement Administration agent Lance King got so rowdy she was forced to close the club. God Bless! He's told me, 'If you want to mess up your mind, that's your fault. Baker removed the drugs from his truck after the accident. Copyright Baker's former property became part of the Ozark National Forest. He listed his age as 18, hers as 16. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. In March 1987, Louann Wheeler, an elderly widow, went to court to win clear title to about four acres of land in southern Madison County. She'll say, 'OK.' Police would never raise questions about the mussed bed or take the bedclothes that might have provided some evidence of a killer. "I'd go in any front door in the country with Ralph Baker. He dropped out of school after the ninth grade. Rose, who represented Johnson, told the court he was "personally disappointed" with Johnson's decision. Criss has declined requests for interviews. Smith, the special agent in charge of FBI operations in Arkansas. During a four-day legal fight over Knox's notes, the former FBI agent alleged that Jones had told him not to investigate allegations of corruption against a "local law enforcement official," and not to take his evidence to the FBI. Sheriff Baker lost his life in the flooded waters of White River near St. Paul in the early morning hours while investigating the theft of stolen property in the area. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. "Some of the two- and three-way deals, you might make a couple of thousand dollars each off of it," he said. "You know you're talking to a dead man," he says. I was actually born in Huntsville, Arkansas, the County Seat of Madison County. The ranking police official was Madison County Sheriff Ralph Baker, a close friend of the slain convenience store owner. "That's why Ralph really almost had to sell it to us, because he knows how much that land means to us, and all the family is buried up there in that Brashears Cemetery. I hope you enjoy the book. , Dimensions He's just another man. Rest in peace. Sheriff Ralph Baker, who's election slogan was "RALPH CARES". Baker, sheriff since 1973, declines to discuss the case, which he says is one of only two unsolved murders in Madison County. Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05. A week after the murder, Cain was fired for interfering in the investigation. Drug dealers who acknowledge being paid by either Baker's agency or the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for help with Madison County drug busts say they never received payments of more than $100, and then no more often than a few times a year. In 1987, the two county officials and their wives had bought 120 acres of timberland from Minsie Leathem, the widow of former Sheriff Noah Leathem, for $8,000. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. All I have is hearsay," said Joy Russell, the county's leading historian. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Her 7-year-old son discovered her body late on the morning of Sept. 3, 1994, a Saturday. Under pressure from Baker, Everett and Knox resigned Aug. 7 from their unpaid positions. She says the paraphernalia charge was incidental. And some who listened cared less, The drug dealer is still alive in October, and he says he has no choice but to continue to deal crank from his family home. "Boy, that sure is a nice deal," said Dr. Martin, told of the dramatic increase. We'd put them on our tags, and we'd just hope we wouldn't get stopped.". "That goes for both of you. And his badge is shining bright. And you'll never live long enough to see him out of the pen again,'" Minor remembers. He started doing that in 1967, Democrat-Gazette research shows, with the acquisition of 25 acres from Bobby and Mildred Gulledge, a couple he's continued to make deals with over the years. Cain, along with Phillips' brother and one of her sisters, beat the sheriff's office to her house. He said I'd be dead by September anyway.". Imagine breaking the law without fear. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Information for this article was contributed by staff writer Jeffrey Wood. Lots of caves around those parts, with lots of toothless backwoods folks who take a keen interest in outsiders visiting the area. Gary Wayne Johnson, a worker at a Wesley broom handle factory, sued Baker, Chief Deputy Steve Treat and former Deputy Steve Corkern, who is now Huntsville's police chief. In fact, Baker was an outlaw before he was a sheriff. "A lot of people call it that, but I don't know the origin.". Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. His friends are always other cops Still, he said, the price seemed in line with other land he looked at. Wheeler also said she didn't recall filing the lawsuit. Merry Christmas too you and your family. Thank you for your service to the citizens of Madison County and your fellowman. 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