Murder suspects caught after week-long search along Buffalo River

FILE -- Roark Bluff is seen in this Nov. 27 2020 file photo along the Buffalo National River at Steel Creek campground and river access.
(NWA Democrat-Gazettte/Flip Putthoff)
FILE -- Roark Bluff is seen in this Nov. 27 2020 file photo along the Buffalo National River at Steel Creek campground and river access. (NWA Democrat-Gazettte/Flip Putthoff)

MARSHALL — Two suspects wanted in connection with a murder have been captured, according to a Thursday afternoon post on the Facebook page of the Searcy County Office of Emergency Management.

Law enforcement officers from many departments searched the area near the Buffalo National River for about a week for Jason Lee Stockstill, 49, and Heather Dawn Scallion, 38, wanted in relation to an Oct. 14 shooting in Boone County.

Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell will issue more details later, the post reads.

EARLIER:

HARRISON -- Boone County Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement agencies continued searching Thursday in the Buffalo National River area for two shooting suspects.

Police are looking for Jason Lee Stockstill, 49, and Heather Dawn Scallion, 38, in relation to an Oct. 12 shooting, according to a post on the Facebook site of the national river.

The pair are being sought in the shooting death of Tim Blackburn, 59, according to the sheriff's office. Blackburn was found with gunshot wounds around 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14 at a residence in rural Boone County, according to media reports. He died at the hospital, the sheriff's office said.

Stockstill and Scallion were last seen Wednesday, fleeing law enforcement officers on foot from the Grinder's Ferry gravel bar in the river, the report reads.

The Tyler Bend River Access Point, Tyler Bend Visitor Center and Tyler Bend Campground are closed while authorities continue the search for the fugitives, according to the National Park Service website.

Police urge residents and visitors of the area to continue to use caution.

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