Arkansas family drama deepens after a dumpster discovery
A grim new development emerged when a dumpster diver found a black garbage bag in Fort Smith, Arkansas, containing the personal items of Charity Beallis, her 40‑year‑old mother, and her six‑year‑old twins. The discovery came just three days after the trio’s murder last month, when the mother and her children were shot to death inside their $760,000 home on Bonanza, a small town outside of Fort Smith.
The bag carried a gold necklace engraved with the names of the babies, framed photos of the family, the children’s art and homework, and several documents signed with Beallis’s name and address. Also inside was what appeared to be a religious painting. The diver immediately contacted police, who took the items to the scene of the crime and then to a local family attorney later that day.
Background of the tragedy
Beallis was in the midst of a contentious divorce from her 56‑year‑old husband, Dr. Randall P. Powell, when the killings occurred. The divorce case was on the table at the Sebastian County Courthouse; Powell had been awarded joint custody of the children after a 2024 domestic‑violence incident that saw him choke his wife. He was arrested, pleaded guilty to domestic‑violence charges, and received a one‑year suspended sentence along with a $1,500 fine.
The family home – where the tragedy unfolded – was subject to a welfare check on December 3. Investigators say Beallis feared for her life and that of her children after Powell’s previous altercation. Earlier that year, she had reached out to Arkansas Republican State Senator Terry Rice for help and was connected to resources through the Arkansas State Police Crimes‑Against‑Children Division.
Legal status and ongoing investigation
Powell’s attorney, Michael D. Pierce, has publicly stated that Mr. Beallis is not responsible for his wife or children’s deaths. “Mr. Beallis was not responsible for the death of Mrs. Beallis nor his children’s deaths,” Pierce told the local press. “Mr. Beallis has been cooperative with law enforcement and fully supports the Sebastian County Sheriff’s office investigation. We hope that the sheriff’s office finds the truth about what happened to Mrs. Charity Beallis and their children.”
As of now, no arrests have been announced, and authorities have not identified a suspect. The case remains open, and detectives are reviewing the new evidence from the dumpster as part of their investigation into the murders.
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