LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – After a four day search, the body of missing realtor Beverly Carter was found on Sept. 30, 2014. She reportedly disappeared while she was showing a home in Scott, Arkansas on Sept. 25, 2014. Large search parties gathered in the Scott area to search for Beverly Lyn Carter, but after four days of searching, nothing was found.
Information developed by investigators on the morning of Sept. 30, 2014 led them to a location in a Pulaski County area of Cabot where her body was found in a shallow grave.
A suspect, 33-year-old Arron Lewis, was charged with capital murder, kidnapping, hold for parole, firearms possession by certain person, and robbery.
One month later, on Oct. 30, 2014, the estranged wife of Lewis, Crystal Lowery, was reportedly arrested as well. She is facing charges of one count of capital murder and one count of kidnapping.
Below is a timeline of events:
Sept. 26, 2014:
- Pulaski County deputies shared with the media that crews were searching for Carter after she disappeared while showing a home in Scott, Arkansas on Thursday. Authorities said that Carter's husband went to the home on Old River Road around 9 p.m. because he had not heard from her in several hours. At the home, he is said to have found her car and purse, but she was not there. He then reported her as missing.
- THV11 spoke with Carter's husband, Carl, who said he received three texts in a row around 1 a.m. "All of a sudden I received three texts in a row. One said 'Yes.'… Then she sent another text that said, 'My phone's low. The battery's down, and I'll call you whenever I get signal.' …And, then, straight back-to-back, I received a text that said 'Oh, I'm out drinking with some friends,'" he recited. "Beverly's not a drinker…We just want our mom back, and my wife of 35 years…I need her."
Sept. 27, 2014:
- More than 250 volunteers helped in the search for Carter. They were divided into three groups to search areas near Old River Road, I-30, and Highway 161.
- A Facebook page was created surrounding the effort to find Carter: https://www.facebook.com/FindBeverlyCarter
- The hashtag #FindBeverly began to circulate on Twitter.
Sept. 28, 2014:
- Deputies released information on a man named Arron Michael Lewis, 33, who is suspected in Carter's disappearance. He had reportedly been in a vehicle accident and was at Baptist Hospital for treatment. According to Lt. Minden with PCSO, Lewis was a person of interest before he had reached the hospital. Lewis reportedly left the hospital in the middle of testing and a warrant was obtained later in the day. Read more: http://on.kthv.com/1sxIsw5
- Police have not said how they connected Lewis to Carter's disappearance.
- Crews and volunteers continued to search for Carter, but she was not found.
Sept. 29, 2014:
- Arron Lewis was reportedly apprehended by Little Rock police at Pleasant Pointe Apartments on Green Mountain Drive. As of 11:30 a.m., Sheriff Doc Holladay said he was being interrogated at the sheriff's office. Read more: http://on.kthv.com/1sxIsw5
- Crews continue to search for Carter.
Sept. 30, 2014:
- Around 12:40 a.m. the Sheriff's Office reports Lewis admitting to kidnapping Carter, but would not say where she was. He was booked into the jail for kidnapping. Shortly after he was booked, investigators got information that led them to the 12100 block of Hwy. 5, a Cabot address in Pulaski County, and found Carter's body in a shallow grave. It has been taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab. Lewis' charges will be amended to capital murder. Read more: http://on.kthv.com/YJKrzG
- The hashtag, #RememberBeverly, began to trend on social media sites.
Oct. 4, 2014:
- Family and friends say goodbye to Beverly Carter at First Pentecostal Church in North Little Rock.
Oct. 17, 2014:
- Lowery files for divorce on grounds of general indignities. They had been separated since Aug. 27, 2014
Oct. 30, 2014:
- Crystal Lowery is arrested in connection to Beverly Carter's death, and charged with capital murder and kidnapping. More info: http://on.kthv.com/1DCNzLv
Oct. 31, 2014:
- Lowery pleads not guilty in a video arraignment to charges of capital murder and kidnapping. More: http://on.kthv.com/1ZqDPUZ
Nov. 25, 2014:
- Arron Lewis is formally charged with capital murder, kidnapping, and felon in possession of a firearm.
Feb. 26, 2015:
- Arron Lewis was originally scheduled for a hearing Thursday but did not appear in court. Instead his lawyer appeared, requesting that results of the mental evaluation, which he received that morning, be sealed, but the judge has denied the request.
- In the released mental evaluation, the examining psychologist concluded that "Lewis possessed a basic understanding of the criminal proceedings against him" and believed that he "possessed the capacity to rationally assist and communicate with his attorney regarding the case." More: http://on.kthv.com/1FxJFFB
March 5, 2015:
- Lewis makes a formal request to represent himself and terminate his lawyer, Jim Hensley. After discussing the decision with the judge, he was granted his request. More info: http://on.kthv.com/1w3cD0n
Oct. 5, 2015:
- Lewis' defense is granted a continuance, and they maintain their "not guilty" plea. More: http://on.kthv.com/1iZEo4p
Oct. 30, 2015:
- Exactly one month after Carter's body was found, Lewis' estranged wife Crystal Lowery was arrested in connection to Carter's death.
- According to the arrest report, she is being charged with capital murder and kidnapping.
Dec. 10, 2015:
- Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herb Wright ruled in favor of the defense motion to suppress all evidence found in Arron Lewis' car and home as well as some statements Lewis made to investigators. The judge determined the evidence which includes Carter's cell phone, as well as strands of her hair that was obtained illegally by investigators.
- According to the court order, some of the state's evidence found in Lewis' car may come back in to play if the state can prove the evidence was found legally during an inventory search. More: http://on.kthv.com/1ONLZQd
Dec. 17, 2015:
- Circuit Court Judge Herbert Wright said in a ruling late Wednesday that the evidence taken from Arron Lewis' car was obtained using an overly broad search warrant, not during an inventory of items when the car was impounded. He ruled it cannot be admissible at trial.
- The state appeals the judge's decision, saying the evidence could have been obtained during an impound inventory. More: http://on.kthv.com/1Q35xB7
Dec. 29, 2015:
- Lewis' defense objects to using the following evidence at trial: Affidavit of Arron Lewis, Text messages allegedly sent by Lewis, Text messages allegedly sent by Crystal Lowery, Lewis' wife, Emails allegedly sent by Lewis, Google records for a certain account, Textme records, and Medical examiner photos.
Dec. 30, 2015:
- A hearing is held on whether a piece of hair—believed to be Carter's—found in Lewis' vehicle is admissible in court. The defense says it was obtained against Pulaski County Sheriff's Office policy, and that investigators were looking for incriminating evidence. Details: http://on.kthv.com/1KbGGEX
Jan. 6, 2016:
- Judge Herbert T. Wright rules that the evidence found in the cab of Arron Lewis' car can be used in trial, while the motion to use evidence found in the trunk was denied. He also ruled that a jury can hear a recording of Carter asking her husband to follow ransom instructions recorded days before she was found dead by police. Other evidence including texts between Arron Lewis and his estranged wife, Crystal Lowery, will also be allowed. More: http://on.kthv.com/1R9x0SK
Jan. 12, 2016:
- Jury selection begins at 9 a.m. at Pulaski County Circuit Courthouse. Read More: http://on.kthv.com/1R9x0SK
