An Arkansas news station has confirmed the identity of the suspect in custody on suspicion of killing 25-year-old Sydney Sutherland.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Sutherland went missing Wednesday after she left home to go jogging and didn’t return. On Friday, investigators found her dead body in Jackson County, Arkansas, not far from her home.
Authorities have not yet released a cause of death, pending the results of a medical examination.
On Friday, Jackson County Sheriff David Lucas announced in a press conference that authorities had a suspect in custody who was familiar to the victim. On Saturday, KAIT identified the suspect as Quake Lewellyn, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
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A KAIT reporter said in a Twitter post on Saturday that Lewellyn, who is believed to be in his 20s, has been charged with murder.
#UPDATE Quake Lewellyn has been arrested and charged in the murder of Sydney Sutherland, according to sources close to Region 8 News. #Correction in my previous tweet, Lewellyn was stated to be 25 . When asked, Sheriff Lucas told media he was 25. It is possible that is wrong.
— Jurnee Taylor (@_JurneeTaylor) August 22, 2020
According to a 2016 local news story, Llewellyn is from a well-known multigenerational farming family.
A motive for the apparent murder is not yet known. CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
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