By PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
White County authorities are investigating a possible murder, but they are awaiting an autopsy to determine if the beating of a 46-year-old Pine Bluff man, which allegedly occurred last week between Ward and Beebe, was the direct cause of death, Prosecuting Attorney Chris Raff told The Leader.
A good samaritan, Robert Heath, helped out the 46-year-old Pine Bluff man later identified as Randall Helms, who was bleeding from his face and head and was found in a ditch off South Redmond Road in Jacksonville last Wednesday. Heath said the injured man was incoherent.
Heath, who is from Jacksonville, put Helms in his pickup and took him to the emergency room at Rebsamen Medical Center.
Helms said he was beaten at a residence between Ward and Beebe. A message was sent to both police departments notifying them of the beating.
“I believe he died the next day,” said Lt. Martin Cass, public information officer for Jacksonville Police Department.
Beebe law-enforcement authorities were unavailable for comment Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutor Raff said there had been no arrests in the case.
