05/04/2012

Chicot County Tax Collector Found Beaten To Death

Arkansasmatters.com

By: Matthew Carroll

Updated: May 3, 2012

Sheriff Ronald Nichols confirms to KARK the beating death of the 72 year old Chicot County Tax Collector.

Sheriff Nichols says Nell Johnson, a 72 year old grandmother, was found beaten to death around 1:00 Thursday afternoon.

Nichols tells KARK Johnson's brother went by her house after she failed to show up for work this morning. There he found his sister bludgeoned to death. The sheriff says Johnson suffered a blunt force trauma to her head. 

Miss Johnson, a widow, was up for re-election in November. She's served as Chicot county's tax collector for four years. She was a lifelong resident of Lake Village.

Johnson had last been heard from Wednesday night at 8:00 when she talked to her daughter on the telephone.

There are no suspects at this time.

The Arkansas State Police have taken over the investigation. Nell Johnson's body is en route to the state crime lab.