Family of slain ex-Arkansas lawmaker ‘sickened’ by arrest

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, file photo, Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, R-Pocahontas, listens to testimony at a meeting of the Senate Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark. Authorities on Friday, June 14, 2019, said they've arrested an Arkansas woman in connection with the killing of former state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, who was found dead outside her own home, on June 4. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston, File)

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The Associated Press

June 15, 2019 - 9:41 am

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The family of a former Arkansas state senator who was found dead outside of her home says it is “sickened and upset” by the thought that one of her friends could have been involved in her death.

Authorities on Friday announced the arrest of 48-year-old Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell, of Pocahontas, in connection with the killing of 57-year-old Linda Collins.

Collins’ family said in a statement released late Friday that they are “sickened and upset that someone so close to Linda, would be involved in such a terrible, heartless crime.”

Police say criminal charges are pending and didn’t say whether they were seeking any other suspects in the death of Collins, who went by Collins-Smith when she was in the Legislature. Her body was found June 4 outside her home in Pocahontas, about 130 miles northeast of Little Rock.

Collins’ funeral is Saturday.

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