Arkansas State Police name victims in Fulton County deaths, continue hunt for person of interest

Authorities are searching for an Ash Flat man identified as a person of interest in the deaths of two women found Tuesday afternoon inside a home in Ash Flat.

According to the Arkansas State Police, deputies with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office responded around 3 p.m. Oct. 21 to a residence in the 300 block of Sweet Clover Lane, where they discovered the bodies of Tonya Stallings, 54, and Ashley Stallings, 33, both of Ash Flat. The victims were transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine the cause and manner of death.

Investigators have identified Jacob Lowell Smith, 32, of Ash Flat, as a person of interest in the case. Smith is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, with blue eyes, a slender build, and blonde hair that may be dyed. He has numerous tattoos, including a distinctive bow tie on his neck and throat, and should be considered armed and dangerous.

On Oct. 22, Arkansas State Police, U.S. Marshals, Mountain Home Police, Baxter County Sheriff Jake Smith, and a Baxter County deputy executed a search warrant at a small apartment complex on Highway 201 north of Mountain Home in an effort to apprehend Smith and collect evidence.

Authorities said Smith, who is on parole, had a history of violence and an active absconder warrant. His current whereabouts remain unknown.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911 or contact the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at (870) 895-2601. Officials warn the public not to approach Smith but to report any sightings immediately.

Full statement from Baxter county Sheriff Jake Smith on today’s investigation in Mountain Home:

Jacob Lowell Smith, 32 , 6’2” blue eyes, slender build, blonde (may be dyed), heavily tattooed including face and neck, distinctive bow tie tattoo on neck and throat area. Smith may be armed and is considered a dangerous person.

On October 22, 2025, Arkansas State Police, US Marshalls , Mountain Home Police, along with a Baxter County Deputy and myself on scene, executed a search warrant at a small apartment complex on Highway 201, north of Mountain Home. The purpose of the warrant was to apprehend Jacob Lowell Smith on an absconder warrant and to search for evidence related to a double homicide committed in Fulton County.

Smith had been identified as a person of interest on the night of Oct. 21ˢᵗ. It was learned that he had been living at the apparent and investigators began trying to track his exact location.

Looking into his back ground, it was discovered that Smith had a history of violence and was on parole. Smith would not likely cooperate with law enforcement, and if he had any involvement in the murders, would most likely flee if questioned. It was decided the best course of action would be to wait and see if investigators would find sufficient evidence to obtain a warrant. Coincidentally,
Arkansas Community Corrections had a pending absconder warrant for Smith. This would allow him to be held while evidence continued to be gathered, and investigators could question Smith.

Although the murders were discovered on Oct. 21ˢᵗ, the crime had been committed days prior.

Investigators got a possible lead on Smith’s location. On the morning of Oct. 22ⁿᵈ, the absconder warrant came through and the various teams of law enforcement were called in to execute that
warrant along with search warrants. Details surrounding Smith’s movements are investigative in nature and cannot be discussed at this time.

It is clear that at some point Smith learned that he had an active absconder warrant and was named as person of interest in the murders. It is not clear whether he is evading law enforcement because of the absconder warrant or because he is sought for questioning in the murders.

Smith’s current whereabouts are unknown at this time. If you see Smith or have information that may help locate him, please contact the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office at 870-895-2601.

Please do not approach Smith, just notify law enforcement quickly as you can.

Respectfully,

Sheriff Jacob “Jake” Smith

Image: Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office