Murdered Arkansas jogger, 25, was abducted, raped then buried by local farmer, police say
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A local farmer abducted, raped and buried a nurse who went missing while jogging in Arkansas last week, officials say.
Sydney Sutherland, 25, was reported missing on August 19 after she failed to return home from an afternoon jog and she was found dead near her home in Newport, Arkansas on Friday.
Third generation farmer Quake Lewellyn, 28, of Jonesboro, was charged with her murder.
On Monday police said during a probable cause hearing that Lewellyn spotted Sutherland on the highway as he was driving, doubled back, and abducted her then drove three miles away to a farm to rape her.
On Monday police said farmer Quake Lewellyn, 28, (left) abducted, raped, then buried 25-year-old nurse Sydney Sutherland after he spotted her on her afternoon jog on August 19
Lewellyn was silent on Monday and wore a bullet-proof vest and an orange prison jumpsuit as he walked up to the Jackson County courthouse for his probable cause hearing
Lewellyn was silent on Monday and wore a bullet-proof vest and an orange prison jumpsuit as he walked up to the Jackson County courthouse for the hearing.
Authorities said he confessed to her killing when they questioned him about Sutherland’s disappearance.
Arkansas State Police agent Mike McNeal took the stand and explained how Lewellyn was traveling westbound on County Road 41 when he saw Sutherland walking by and turned around to abduct her.
He forced her in the back of his pick-up truck, drove about three miles to a farm where he raped her, killed her, then buried her body, according to KAIT.
This still shared from Ring footage of a family member is believed to be the last picture of Sutherland and was taken just 90 minutes before she went on a run near her home Wednesday
Lewellyn pictured wearing bullet proof vest and orange jumpsuit for the brief hearing on Monday where authorities said he confessed to Sutherland’s killing. Officials said Friday the arrested suspect was known to the victim but the nature of their relationship was unclear
Police found Sutherland’s body following a three-day search operation using K-9 units and helicopter crews.
She was last seen running on State Hwy 18 between Newport and Grubbs around 3pm on Wednesday. On Friday a body was found and those remains were identified as Sutherland’s over the weekend.
The brief hearing did not address how Sutherland died. Sutherland’s family was present at the courthouse.
The judge found cause to charge Lewellyn and he was ordered to be held without bond until his next court date on October 1.
In 2016 Lewellyn, a Tuckerman High School graduate, was named as Jackson County Farm Family of the Year alongside his father Michael and grandfather Donald.
Quake told ArkansasOnline.com: ‘I’ve always worked on the farm. I began driving a yellow Ford, … hauling seed for dad. We all have our own farms, but we help each other out.’
Dad Michael added: ‘We are a true family farm. From my dad, Donald, to me, to my son, Quake.’ The family are said to own 5,800 acres in four counties.
In 2016 Lewellyn, a Tuckerman High School graduate, was named as Jackson County Farm Family of the Year alongside his father Michael and grandfather Donald.
The alleged suspect 28-year-old Quake Lewellyn being taken into custody on Friday
Police on Friday the arrested suspect was a farmer from Jonesboro and was known to the victim, but the nature of their relationship is unclear.
Prior to Friday, police had discovered Sutherland’s iPhone about a quarter-mile from her home. She was reported to have gone on running with her phone and Apple Watch.
Sutherland worked as a nurse, according to her Facebook page, and lived with her boyfriend.
The sheriff confirmed there was no indication of any issues with her boyfriend when the search was launched.
She worked at Harris Medical Center in Newport, where co-workers described her as bright and outgoing.
Sutherland shared regular photos to Facebook of her work as a nurse. Pictured in her scrubs
Sydney was last seen running on State Hwy 18 near her home at around 3pm on Wednesday
‘She’s very close to her family,’ her co-worker Jennifer Eddington told WMC5 before she was found.
‘We just know that she wouldn’t leave on her own without contacting somebody, that’s not her nature at all.’
The sheriff has praised the local efforts in the search for Sutherland in what was a ‘very tragic case’.
‘It’s taken a toll, it really has,’ he said.
‘Just because I know the people of this county. I know this family personally. I know this young lady personally. I’ve known her and watched her grow up. It hits me personally.’
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