Richard Lease, 38, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds on January 7, 2026, in a home near Booneville, Arkansas. He worked as a contractor and enjoyed hunting and fishing. Lease was a father of four and was engaged to be married.

Investigators say the shooting appeared to arise from a domestic dispute. Authorities focused on a family member, and 68-year-old John Rich, identified as Lease’s stepfather, was taken into custody. A rifle was recovered at the scene on State Highway 23. Rich was charged with first-degree murder and booked into the Logan County Jail; the case is scheduled to proceed through the Logan County Court system.

Does anyone have information about the household or the relationship between Lease and his stepfather that could help clarify what led to this confrontation?